Since waking up this morning, the word/s “authentic/authenticity” have been swirling around in my head, so even though today’s meditation is “Sharing Love” I decided to make the intro – Authenticity…
We tend to think of being authentic as something we project out to the world, the courage to defy expectations and proudly display our true colors. And it often sounds like:
“Authenticity: the courage to be yourself.” – Janine Ripper
“Authenticity is about being true to who you are, even when everyone around you wants you to be someone else.” – Michael Jordan
Claim your space! Be yourself! Don’t let the world push you around! Be authentic!
While these are all important aspects of being authentic, Brene Brown shines the light just a little deeper and reminded me that just as with everything else, authenticity is less about what I choose to show the world and more about my relationship with me:
“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” – Brené Brown
and that sounds a little bit like John Welwood’s description of meditation:
“Meditation provides a way of learning how to let go. As we sit, the self we’ve been trying to construct and make into a nice, neat package continues to unravel.” – John Welwood
So here we have two thoughts from Brene and John that lead us right to the front door of authenticity:
- Letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be,
- and unraveling the self we’ve been trying to construct.
Before I can even scratch the surface of authenticity, I need to understand that I have constructed an image of myself in answer to the expectations I have picked up from the world around me. And I need to investigate whether who I have been trying to be, is anywhere close to the true expression of my soul.
So in a nutshell maybe being authentic is less about… not being afraid to show the world who I am – and more about… not being afraid to find out for myself who I am.
And just in case finding out the truth about yourself sounds a little scary, I want to remind you – everything you thought of as being YOU in the past, is really just a collection of all the fears and the voices you absorbed from the world around you in your childhood and after.
Underneath all those layers of baggage is the authentic you, and you’re f#@king AWESOME!
This brings us to today’s meditation, “Sharing love” and the reminder that indeed your only path to love is through being completely authentic with yourself about who you are.
Here are some guiding mantras to keep in mind on your journey of self-discovery:
- Who I think I’m supposed to be is a story. The real me is waiting to be discovered.
- Self-discovery requires courage, but the rewards are worth it.
- Meditation is a powerful tool for peeling back the layers and embracing authenticity.
- Love starts within. The more authentic you are with yourself, the more love you can share with the world.
Remember, authenticity is a continuous exploration, not a destination. Embrace the journey, and don’t be afraid to get a little messy in the process. You’ve got this!
Have a happy Friday!
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Sharing love.