Discovering Authenticity: The Art of Being You
We seem to live in a world where the term ‘authenticity’ gets thrown around a lot. There appears to be a universal obsession around it, often without a clear understanding of what it actually means. This is particularly evident in the online world, where creating a seemingly authentic persona can be a strategic move in boosting your image or business. Let me inject a tiny bit of truth juice here: Authenticity isn’t looking unpresentable or continuously sharing sob stories. Let’s delve deeper into truly understanding what being authentic is all about.
Naked Authenticity
To truly be authentically you, there’s a certain level of vulnerability you’d need to nurture, one that can be equated metaphorically to being naked; emotionally exposed and raw. This vulnerability, although discomforting, can bring refreshing originality and truth that can be transformative.
For a more detailed understanding of how controlling your environment is not the key to finding joy, you can check out this insightful video I previously shared on embracing uncertainty. The key to true authenticity and mitigating false control lies in self-awareness and understanding yourself better.
Taking Control: Acceptance, Awareness, and Accountablity
The first step in this journey starts with you acknowledging and understanding your current situation – accepting where you are in life right now in order to move forward. Acceptance is not about romanticizing a challenging situation, it’s about coming to terms with reality as it stands. This provides a sense of clarity and creates space for positive development.
“The first place to start with vulnerability is yourself. Because it’s the hardest place to do it. Rest assured, it’s not that you’re doing something wrong. It’s just sometimes you’re not always driving your car.”
Now that we’re on the same page, where do we go from here? How do we traverse the path to an authentic life? My recommendation? Start with acknowledging and understanding your inner child.
Inner Child Revelations
By inner child, I’m referring to rekindling joy, nostalgia, and the freedom of innocence we often lose as we grow up. Unfortunately, alongside the joyful memories, there might be limiting beliefs and traumatic experiences from our past that need to be addressed and released to help us move forward. One size doesn’t fit all, so the process of release can vary from person to person. The important thing is finding a way that works for you individually, rather than following a one-method-fits-all approach.
My suggestion? Experiment with different techniques and listen to your intuition to find the method that works best for you. As you traverse down this path of self-discovery, you’re going to learn a lot about yourself. So embrace the buffet of options for your self-improvement journey without any pressure or specific expectations.
“The key is not to focus on finding an immediate solution to your problems, but rather the target should be to continually explore and better understand yourself.”
Finding a Mentor
Remember, while the journey is solitary in terms of personal progress, you don’t have to navigate it alone – a mentor can provide guidance. This doesn’t necessarily imply investing huge amounts of money. Sometimes, a mentor could serendipitously enter your life just when you need them, possibly even offering their services for free. Be open to such opportunities, accepting the fact that you might require external help to traverse this journey.
“Sometimes the insight you need comes from your own thoughts being reflected back at you from a different voice.”
Accept Where You Are
In the pursuit of authenticity, it’s important to take accountability for your actions and where you are in life. Your circumstances might have been challenging, but ultimately, your choices pave the way for your future. It’s important to not fall into the pit of victimhood, instead, learn to rise above it and make intentional choices that reflect the true you.
For those of you ready to delve deeper into understanding your true self, I recommend accessing my ‘Unmask Your True Self’ e-book available for just $7. The e-book is equipped with exercises designed to allow an in-depth introspection of your self.
This journey is not about a quick fix, it’s about understanding, embracing, and becoming the real you. The secret lies not in becoming someone else, but in truly becoming yourself by acknowledging where you are and intentionally determining where you want to go.
“Your purpose is to become the authentic you by embodying the light of self and conquering everything that prevents you from being that light”
Remember, it’s not about being perfect, it’s about being true to who you are, even if that means sharing your vulnerabilities. In doing so, you inspire others to be unapologetically themselves.
I hope this blog post has inspired you to start your journey towards authenticity. Give yourself permission to explore, to be vulnerable, and to find your own truth. Remember, In order to get to the light, you have to face the shadow.
