“We need to find the courage to say NO to the things and people that are not serving us if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity.”
– Barbara de Angelis
How do the words above resonate with you?
Pause here for a moment and free yourself from distractions:
Take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... calm your mind and be present...
What does living an authentic life mean to you? Thing about that for a moment and formulate an answer...
Authenticity is getting all the buzz these days. I strongly believe authenticity is powerful. I wonder however, why this authenticity thing is so difficult for each of us to own... Is authenticity something you really want...?
authenticity /noun/:
you are true to your own personality, values, and spirit, regardless of the pressure that you're under to act otherwise. You're honest with yourself and with others, and you take responsibility for your mistakes.
(from mindtools.com)
the quality of being real or true.
The words real, true, honest, and responsibility stand out to me. Is authenticity then, ones responsibility...?
A powerful message from Iyanla Vanzant: from Until Today: Daily Devotions for Spiritual Growth and Peace of Mind
It is only through your vulnerable authentic Self that the world comes face to face with the true lasting power and undeniable beauty that you are.
You may have been afraid to be your authentic Self, to admit what you did not know or could not do.
Just for today, allow yourself to be vulnerable with just one person, yourself.
This is about YOU! Today’s Affirmation:
I am devoted to seeing and accepting myself exactly as I am!
“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” – Brené Brown
If you are willing to be vulnerable and take responsibility for honoring yourself, take a look at these strategies below:
How to Be Your Authentic Self: 7 Powerful Strategies to Be True
by Lyn Christian soulsalt.com
1. Take personal inventory: Prioritize those people and activities that bring you joy and meaning. Alternately, you may need to walk away from those unhealthy relationships and toxic situations if you want to live a more authentic life.
ACTION STEP: In situations where you feel authentic, what’s going on? Write down:
-Who you’re with
-What activities are involved
-Positive emotions or outcomes of these experiences
2. Be present: When you find yourself wondering how you appear, whether you meet approval, or what you should do next, focus inward. Reflect on your values. With awareness, you will find opportunities to express yourself more fully and take actions that feel more in line with the real you.
ACTION STEP: Practice taking a pause to breathe and check in with yourself regularly throughout the day.
3. Build your social support system: If you want to live an authentic life, surround yourself with authentic people. That means intentionally giving your time and attention to people who not only are true to themselves, but also support you in your journey.
ACTION STEP: Connect with a coach or mentor, who can help navigate your path to self-discovery. Check in with your relationships from time to time.
4. Speak your truth, assertively: Practicing an assertive communication style ensures open, honest dialogue while still considering the needs of others. This encourages balanced conversations in which both people have a chance to speak. Assertive Communication Means, Expressing your needs honestly with confidence, Listening to other people when they speak, Keeping eye contact during a conversation, Being able to say no.
ACTION STEP: Set boundaries that prevent unhealthy communication and help you remain authentic.
5. Take daily action towards authenticity: Authenticity can feel like a big, abstract concept. But when you really look at it, it comes down to your day to day actions. It’s those seemingly small moments, the things you say, your decisions, your actions, that add up to who you are. Actualizing an authentic life starts with intentional daily planning. If your time is dominated by other people’s priorities, of course you will feel you are not living your truth.
ACTION STEP: Set aside time to decide your priorities for the day ahead: tasks for work, exercise, getting enough sleep. Include time each day to take a small step forward on your personal goals.
6. Take a step back to gain perspective: When you "hyperfocus" on a problem, you can lose sight of who you are. Sometimes you need to take a step back to see the bigger picture, removing yourself from a situation altogether. Taking a break helps to listen to your heart and your gut, and the answers will flow naturally.
ACTION STEP: Take some time off, a day or a week, to do something fun.
7. Recognize internal versus external influences: When you take the time to distinguish between internal and external motivators, you can make decisions with more clarity. Internal motivators are those drives and desires that come from deep within. I’m talking about heart dreams that push you to become a better person and pursue your goals. External motivators refer to decisions you make based on external factors, like money, status, recognition, or expectations from other people.
Listen to your gut. you may already know the answer deep down.
ACTION STEP: Questions to ask yourself:
Do I feel pressured by other people into taking this step? If so, by whom?
What do I want to accomplish with this goal?
Am I willing to fight through difficult obstacles to make this happen?
Is this truly what I want?
“Authenticity means erasing the gap between what you firmly believe inside and what you reveal to the outside world.” -Adam Grant
What are you willing to do?
Don’t miss your opportunity! Be intentional, encourage others to do the same and watch what happens.
You got this!
Coach Tavia
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References:
How to Be Your Authentic Self: 7 Powerful Strategies to Be True
Vanzant, Iyanla; Until Today: Daily Devotions for Spiritual Growth and Peace of Mind. Atria, New York, NY 2020.
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