Let’s talk about: AUTHENTICITY

There are millions of people around the world who struggle with disease like depression and anxiety. Millions of people united in their pain and united in their silence around it until recently. As humanity’s consciousness awakes we have become more vocal. We express our thoughts freely on twitter, we echo #metoo, and shout back against racism and all the ism’s on its back. As we wake up, we begin upon a path toward unlearning the patterns that no longer serve us well.
To be authentic is to live truly. Though living true is not an easy thing to do, the more I do it the better I feel. And so do many of my clients who struggle with depression, anxiety, and trauma brain. Just think of all the messaging you receive from birth. The programming you get from society down to well meaning parents. The covert and overt messaging of who to be and what to like. From birth you’re learning all the things it’s unsafe to be. As we grow we discover that some of those things actually fit better with who we are. That if we make decisions from a place of honesty and empathy we are happier. I believe that by following the little voice inside your head and living more intuitively you serve better in life. That the more true you are to you and what your purpose is on Earth the easier your path unfolds. While flowing and serving the people around you in a much better way. The Persian poet Rumi says, “When you walk along the way, the way appears.” I read it as the most beautiful, concise way of saying: LIVE AUTHENTICALLY.
So why don’t we do it? It sounds SO easy right? Just do what you want!! SEEK PLEASURE AT ALL COSTS! No, this is not a hedonistic point of view. Living true comes with respecting everything around you. That is living in worth and coming from a place of truth.
One of the biggest reasons it is so difficult is that we have hundreds of subconscious limiting beliefs bubbling around the authentic self. It takes self-reflection, honesty, and meditation to hear these beliefs. Some are loud and recognizable but many are those deeply ingrained, tiny little nuanced things you picked up along the way. Therapy can be a great way to get to know your authentic self. You hear your ideas bounced off another person, and you see yourself reflected back in someone who doesn’t know you outside of that room, and is not invested in anything other than your well being. You can figure out who you want to be. A great way to boost that learning and unlearning is to pair it journaling.
Pulling that voice out and amplifying it loud enough for you to discern is a big chunk of the work. The other comes in listening to it every time it speaks. These intuitive moments don’t often make sense. If you miss it or you doubt it that’s ok. Don’t beat yourself up, just learn from it and listen the next time. These intuitive messages will get louder until you hear them. A lot of clients wonder about the difference between anxious thoughts vs. authentic thoughts. These Intuitive hits feel clear and calm, just a pop of awareness maybe fleeting. While Anxious thoughts feel shelled from a place of insecurity and fear. This is a good way to determine which is which. When we ignore this voice we can be left feeling depressed, anxious, far from our true self and calling. Living authentically and following these moments of truth reflected back you will lead you to be more open. More open to give and to receive. Id like to leave you with a journal entry to get to know your authentic self a little better today.
Let’s journal about the AUTHENTIC SELF- I’d like you to find time to get quiet. 15–30 minutes of sitting quietly, maybe after a bath or shower. Sit with your thoughts, allowing them to come without judgment and redirection while thinking about the question, then write: Where do your thoughts go during the day? What do you think about the most? Can you do a little more of that everyday? How can you incorporate it?