Episode 2 - Getting to Know Yourself with OUR OWN Micaela
By Jessica Garrison
Getting to know yourself after spending most of your life just trying to please other people is a long and difficult journey that we’ve discussed often on the podcast. No one is on the same path to self discovery, so it’s always interesting to hear others speak on what they’ve experienced along the way to finding themselves. Micaela, the F.E.E.L podcast’s social media assistant and research coordinator, shares how she’s grown through the years and how she continues to work towards becoming a healthier person.
Micaela speaks often during this episode about her relationship with God, and how that has helped her become the person who she is today. She describes how she didn’t have her own sense of self before devoting her life to Christ, but now that she has, she feels much more secure in everything she does. It gives her confidence to know that a higher power is looking out for her and guiding her; Micaela knows she’s never alone when things become difficult.
When addressing how she handles boundaries, I thought Micaela gave a very unique answer, which was that “boundaries apply to everything, not just relationships.” She finds that her boundaries show up more in the world of social media. Since she is the social media assistant for the podcast, she has to balance the time she spends online, especially when it’s so easily accessible and necessary to exist. Whether it be for work or for personal use, it’s empowering to hear Micaela talk about the control of what she sees, how much of it she’s viewing, and how it affects her.
Another part of this episode that really resonated with me was when Micaela recalls being told she was a “sensitive” child. For some reason, this word is typically used negatively when referring to people, though the world could use a lot more sensitivity in my opinion. People mistook Micaela’s empathetic nature as a weakness, which she has since relearned as a positive trait. She enjoys sharing these stories as a way to help others who may have been through something similar to her; she wants everyone to know that it’s okay to be who you are, and you shouldn’t be made to feel ashamed of that.
Micaela says that her way of supporting herself, as well as other women, includes being a listener: “You can always learn something from another person, especially if you haven’t walked in their shoes.” She always wants to offer an open ear to those around her, which serves as further proof that empathy is an admirable attribute, rather than something that is a hindrance.
Identifying as a Christian is the biggest reason Micaela is the person she is today. Everything she does and believes stems from her faith, but she shares that despite how strongly she feels about this, it isn’t an easy path to be on. She used to be lost with how much judgment there is in the world and wasn’t sure what her true character was. As a result of this, she is exceptionally proud of her growth while still understanding there’s room for improvement. She has also described herself as a huge people pleaser, but she continues to make decisions that make her feel fulfilled, rather than others. By opening up her mind and allowing God in her life, she can confidently act as her own person.
Micaela is still working on accepting all aspects of herself; she says that introversion will always be part of her, but she wants to come out of her shell more. I’ve learned from her that you can still love yourself while wanting to improve. The world doesn’t have to be black and white—we just have to be willing to understand that not everyone is on the same path as us. The best thing we can do is be sensitive and understanding, like Micaela.