The other day, while I was looking for something else on the internet, I bumped into an ad campaign launched by Netflix Spain in 2024, and I absolutely loved their slogan: "embrace everything you are".
I was only able to find the video in Spanish; I hope it´s understandable for those reading me in English. It´s about a woman who feels confused because she likes many different types of movies and TV series, which makes her wonder who she really is.
The truth is, I find the topic of identity extremely interesting, I´ve already touched on it a couple of times on this blog (for example, here and here). It´s important to remind ourselves often of the fact that we humans are extremely complex, and on top of that, contradictory (I´ve also been looking for another Spanish ad from years ago, with the slogan "live your contradictions", but I haven´t been able to find it).
In fact, a large portion of any personal development work involves a process of accepting and integrating those parts in all of us that are different and even contradictory, in our own personal way.
And, as it usually happens with these things, the work can be hard (sometimes, really hard!), but it´s worth it. First, it helps us to realise that there´s nothing wrong with us, we´re simply human beings, with all that it implies. And once we´re ready to accept everything we are and stop judging ourselves, feeling guilty and beating ourselves up, we can give ourselves permission to move forward and make whatever changes we want in our lives.
These days I´m having the opportunity to switch off from daily life to reconnect with certain things and people in my life, embracing my Spanish side without forgetting the Irish one. Happy St. Patrick´s week!
(Entrada del metro de Gran Vía, en Madrid, vestida de verde para celebrar la «semana de Irlanda», una campaña publicitaria de Turismo de Irlanda).