What It Takes To Live An Authentic Life
Picture: New York Said from Unsplash
Today I didn’t feel like writing an essay form of a blog so here’s a shorter piece about what it takes to live an authentic life.
There’s a version of you that wants to fit in but that means abandoning yourself, authenticity asks you not to.
There’s a version of you that was taught to fit in and that standing out would make life hard, authenticity asks you to stand out.
There’s a past version of you that thinks that others know you better than you do, authenticity asks you to trust yourself over others.
Society tells us that we are never enough just as we are, authenticity says you are always enough just as you are, you do not need to morph yourself into someone else to be approved of. Authenticity asks you to stop seeking validation outside of yourself and honour your truth.
The people pleaser in you is worried that upsetting others and putting them first makes life easier, authenticity acknowledges that this often creates resentment and bitterness. Authenticity asks you to discern what is yours and what is someone else’s responsibility before agreeing to any action.
There’s a version of you that was taught to avoid making boundaries as this would make life uncomfortable and others will make judgements and you might upset them, authenticity asks you to make the boundary anyway.
The version of you that is worried about what others think for fear of being judged, authenticity asks you to speak, and express your original thoughts, dress how you want, show up as your amazing individual self.
The truth is living an authentic life is not easy in a world that has taught you that fitting in is safe. It is a practice that takes time to learn what is true for you, knowing that most of that originality has been suppressed for fear of abandonment and judgement. It takes courage to show up as your unique self, but the rewards are often a life you don’t have to hide from. It adds freedom, it doesn’t take it away, it decreases stress in the long term. Yes, there is a period of transition, and it may feel awkward to start with but the more you practice as with all things the easier it gets. Also know that when you show up authentically this allows other to as well.
May your path to authenticity be filled with moments of self-love, self-trust, bliss and above all else peace. I see you, I honour you and I walk beside you in living an authentic life.