Born To Lead

Growing up as the second oldest, and the oldest girl of 6, I always held a lot of responsibilities.Watching my younger siblings, making breakfast, helping them with their schoolwork, cleaning, and a number of other things were a portion of my childhood.Throughout my life I was always told I possessed the qualities of a leader--someone people looked at and up to when seeking direction.Honestly, as a teenager/young adult I hated it. I wanted little more than to fit in with the people around me--not stand out because they saw me as the "leader" of the group.When making decisions on what to do, where to go, how to shop, and other things, I was polled for the answers by my friends and others.It was only in the last few recent years of my adult life that I've really began to understand and appreciate the value of these qualities. The desire to offer feedback, give insight and influence others' decisions have become assets, rather than pain points.For a long time I ran from the idea of being responsible for others looking to me as an example, because it seemed like a burden that I was always carrying everywhere. I'm learning that it's a gift to have the ability to influence others, and if used for good can have ripple effects on those around you--many that you won't ever even know about, because so many people who observe you will do so in silence.I'm really proud of the strides I've seen lately in being comfortable voicing my opinions and being settled in them. It's so important to fully embrace yourself and the unique gifts I believe God has given us all.What about you?Have you been classified as the "leader" amongst your family/friends? How do you feel about that? I want to know! Feel free to share in the comments below.Happy, thoughtful Tuesday!-ASCOOTD DEETS:Sweater: ASOSSkirt: Amazon FashionShoes: ASOSHeadband: ALANAYAAll photos courtesy of Courtney Young Photography.