Dare You Be Your Authentic Self?
- Sally Cross
- Nov 23, 2024
- 2 min read
By Sally Cross, Therapeutic Life & Relationship Coach for the Midlife & Senior Years.
Getting the best out of our own lives can depend on exposing our vulnerability and embrace the journey to authenticity.
When we can we step into being ourselves, we can start living a more genuine life?
The Definition of Authenticity
Authenticity is about being true to yourself; your thoughts, feelings, values and beliefs. It involves showing your true self without hiding behind masks. It’s like peeling back an onion, layer by layer, until you expose the core, your real self is waiting to be released.
Being authentic is a continual journey of personal growth, requiring introspection, reflection and effort.
Authenticity in Everyday Life
Living authentically can significantly change how you experience daily interactions. When you stay true to yourself, several benefits can emerge:
Practicing authenticity can lead to a rise in positivity and improve well-being.
When you're open and honest about who you are, you invite others to do the same, creating more meaningful, authentic relationships.
Embracing your true self can develop your creative potential. Being yourself, without fear of judgement, following your own path, can free you, allowing your imagination and creativity to grow.
Identifying Your True Self
Getting to know your authentic self takes time and effort, you may have been affected by other peoples opinions and judgement for sometime..
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you begin the journey:
What core values matter most to you?
What beliefs are true to you now?
What beliefs no longer serve you well? Can you ditch them?
What relationships matter to you most? And what ones don't?
Who can you truly be yourself with? Can you expand that further?
Are you affected by what others might think of the real you? Why?
Set aside quiet time for reflection and consider making notes in a journal. This practice allows for open and judgment-free exploration of your thoughts, leading to the discovery of the true aspects of yourself.
Self-Acceptance
Self-acceptance is an important step in embracing authenticity. It means recognising your strengths and weaknesses without self-judgment. Consider this..
No-one is perfect. Instead of focusing on your flaws, recognise the positive traits that contribute to your individuality. If you see the world differently, be ok with that!
Celebrate what makes you unique!
Embrace the journey
Authenticity is not a one-time event; it is an ongoing experience that evolves on our personal growth journey.
Living authentically can be challenging, but by uncovering our true self, resisting societal pressures and nurturing self-acceptance, we create a path toward joy, creativity and meaningful connections.
Remember, it's never too late to become the person you were always meant to be. Rewrite the self-narrative..
If any of this resonates with you, if you would like help and support on your authenticity journey, then please drop me a line...It is never too late to start!!
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