Have you ever had a moment where you unapologetically honored your authenticity and owned your truth?
Well I have and can tell you it?s one of the best experiences ever. It?s where true freedom and abundant peace reside.
Recently, I went to the car wash and ended up seeing two of my neighbors. We chatted while we waited. When the car wash attendant started my car, Christmas music started blaring through the open doors of my vehicle. My neighbors (and everyone else waiting for their cars) were staring at my car shocked to hear Christmas music before.
At that moment, I had a choice. I could have made some half-baked excuse about playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving or I could be authentic and own my love for Christmas even if it is outside the? norm?. Brene Brown defines authenticity as the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.? I choose to live my life being unapologetically authentic at all times. For me, that means I don?t have to try to fit in because I was created to stand out.
When my neighbor started laughing I told her how much I love Christmas and don?t limit it to a week or even a month. I start listening to Christmas music the last week in October and will have decorations up before Thanksgiving. Why? Because I want to and I can. Because I?ve learned that honoring my authenticity keeps me grounded in my truth and anchored to my values.
Here are 3 Steps For Living Authentically
1. Know Your Identity – When you know who you are and whose you are then you won?t want to apologize for your authenticity. Instead choose to celebrate that you are fearfully and wonderfully made regardless of how different you are. Fitting in becomes insignificant to you because you want to stand out and let your light shine from within.
2. Know Your Audience – One of the things that stifles authenticity is when you fall into the people pleasing trap. You try to be all things to all people. You change your mask like you change your underwear and eventually you don?t even recognize yourself. But when your goal is to please God, it simplifies your audience and gives you the freedom for authenticity.
3. Know What Matters – There is something so powerful about having a strong sense of what really matters in life. Whenever I?m coaching someone that struggles with authenticity it stems from a lack of understanding what they truly value, what is truly meaningful to them. Having that kind of clarity allows you to make decisions that serve your purpose and are in agreement with your authentic self.
What I want for you is the peace and freedom that comes from a truly authentic life. When people question why you do something that seems so out of the box you can say, ?Because I want to and I can.?
In the comment section below, please let me know when you start listening to Christmas music and decorating.
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Blessings!
