When you are amongst people you have not seen in a while, is your tendency to simply be you or do you feel the need to impress them? When you are in discussion that calls for your opinion, do you tend to speak your mind truthfully or do you tend to say what you believe the other person wants to hear? When someone is in distress and could use some comforting words, do you speak from the heart thereby exposing your true emotions or do you hold back?
Being authentic is “keeping it real”. It starts with you being comfortable with you, your own self. You live with an attitude that celebrates not only your virtues but equally important, your flaws and imperfections. Being authentic is knowing you are the single YOU that exists in the universe and that there is something beautifully raw about that realization. Being authentic is giving your heart permission to speak intrinsically. You recognize that true human connections are created when you speak your mind through your heart.
Here’s 3 simple ways to be more authentic:
Be vulnerable. Set yourself free from the artificial constraints in your head! When you allow yourself to be vulnerable in your personal relationships, you also give permission for the other person to do the same. And from this space, life unfolds itself with more ease and comfort.
Fear not. Fear not of being judged. Remember the fact that what people think of you is more a reflection of them, and less of you. Ever wonder why different people have different opinions about you? It is because of this simple fact.
- Honor thyself. Trying to be someone else is hard! It is best to simply be yourself. Celebrate yourself – all your flaws and imperfections. It’s what makes you real. It’s what makes you interesting to others.
Being authentic means giving your heart permission to speak intrinsically.
Yoga is a wonderful practice of authenticity. Immediately, we notice our physical limitations of flexibility. Yoga teaches us to honor this starting point and with slow, nourishing breaths, we slowly extend our body in search for new spaces to breathe.
When we are in a challenging pose, like chair pose - where we bend our knees, sink our hips low, lift our arms up to the sky and hold the pose for 10 breaths – could we let go of our ego in trying too hard and through deep breathing, find the comfort in the discomfort? Could we simply marvel and celebrate every second we are strong in this challenging pose?
When we are in a yoga class, could we simply let go of the idea that people are looking at us and judging our imperfections? Because the truth is: they are not! Rather, could we draw our attention inward connecting mind and body, and relaxing within own selves?
Life cannot be 100% planned, rather 100% lived.
In your daily life, resist focusing on what could go wrong if you expose your real self. Rather focus on the possibility that something wonderful may happen if you are more authentic. Life cannot be 100% planned, rather 100% lived. Be there and be a witness! But it can only happen if you are authentic to yourself and to others.
Do these words resonate with you? What has been your experience?