Dear Leos: 5 Things You Are

Most people think that Leos are like open books until they start to read between the lines. Every Leo is understood and misunderstood in equal parts. To some, we come across as invincible because we (rightly or wrongly) believe that people need us to be strong. But in every Leo, there lives a child that wants to be loved and free.

This is a (non-exhaustive) list from one Leo to another. I see you. I know you. I love you.

Who You Are

1. You are BIG

You have a big personality that is fun, positive, and enthusiastic. You have a big smile that is genuine, caring, and warm, and you probably have big hair too! You have a big heart, giving all that you have and more, showering others with love, affection, time, and money. You are quick to anger but also quick to forgive. You are the best cheerleader one could ask for.

2. You are BRIGHT

Your glow is bright and warm like the sunrise, and your eyes sparkle when you smile. Your presence is like the warmth of a fireplace on a cold winter’s day. Bright and shiny things make you happy, and grey skies make you sad. You are always trying to bring sunshine to others’ lives because what is life without joy and laughter? You are the best entertainer one could ask for.

3. You are LOVE

Your love is strong, passionate, fierce, and intense, and you want your love to be seen and known. Your love is as deep as it is wide because you love not with your mind, but with your heart. Your love is affectionate and generous: physically, emotionally, and materially. You protect those you love, even if it means hurting yourself. You are the best protector one could ask for.

4. You are EXPRESSIVE

You wear your heart on your sleeve, never one who is too shy to make your true feelings known. You love creative self-expression, showing your unique style through clothes, accessories, art, and speech. You do not stay silent in the face of injustice, always ready to stand up for what is right. You are the best advocate one could ask for.

5. You are ADVENTUROUS

You love freedom and have a childlike curiosity. To you, every day is a new adventure because there’s always something new to discover. Your mind is filled with tales of grand escapades: exotic lands with new smells, new sounds, new people. You love the flamboyant as much as the mysterious, the vivacious as well as the secretive, the dramatic, and the unassuming. You are the best travel buddy one could ask for.

What You Should Know

1. You have shiny object syndrome

“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” – Alice in Wonderland

Your head is constantly bursting with ideas and you launch into a new project as quickly and as fervently as you lose steam. You discover a new interest and get so excited you tell all your friends about it. You buy all the necessary gears and gadgets, write down all the action plans, and got bored a month later. You are filled with curiosity, so you tend to stick your fingers in too many pies. You end up being a Jack or Jane of all trades, but a master of none.

Know this: Prioritise and focus

“In order to say yes to your priorities, you have to be willing to say no to something else.”

2. You expect others to be like you

Your curiosity makes you a fast learner, and you expect others to think and act at the same speed as you. People who take more time to master their crafts may seem incompetent to you, which in turn makes you seem intolerant and egotistical. Your passionate nature makes you launch into things quickly, so you can come across as being impatient towards those who spend time deliberating. You love deeply, so you expect your love to be reciprocated with the same level of intensity.

Know this: Everyone is different

“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.”

3. You seek external validation

As a child, you come across as bold, expressive, and happy, so you’re not a foreigner to praises and ovations. Somewhere between then and growing up, you accidentally linked compliments and validations with your sense of self-worth, letting them fuel your success and progression. That’s why you flourish under admiration and wither under indifference. You are scared of stepping out of your comfort zone because you are afraid of failure. You think if you tried and failed, people will think less of you.

Know this: Believe in yourself a little more.

“It’s not important what other people believe about you. It’s only important what you believe about yourself.”

4. You take criticisms personally

When someone gives you feedback for your work, you take them personally. Even if the feedback was mainly positive, you are fixated on the negatives. When someone says it needs some improvement, you think they’re saying, “you are stupid” or “you’re a failure”. You take all criticisms, constructive or not, without any filter.

Know this: It is not (always) about you.

“There is only one way to avoid criticism: Do nothing. Say nothing. Be nothing.”

5. You are afraid to show vulnerability

In every one of us Leos, there is this little child who is unsure of himself/herself. So we put on a smiley mask and an armor of haughtiness or tantrums to protect that little child who, really, just wants to be seen and loved. You are afraid that when others see that little child, they would think that you’re useless, flawed, or plain, so you hide it from everyone but yourself.

Know this: You are good enough.

“The moment you accept yourself, you become beautiful.”