Get ready to be inspired in just about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea (about 2 minutes)! And if you’ve got your feet up and that tea’s still hot, we’ve got a whole buffet of brilliance waiting for you on our menu.
A message from today’s meditation:
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 much 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 little 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.
A moment of reflection
(If you have the time, use this question as a journal prompt, because whenever you put pen to paper you’re wiring the neural pathways that create your new habits. But if you don’t have the time, just take a moment to reflect on your response.)
The article discusses authenticity as “letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” Reflect on a time when you felt you were trying to be someone you weren’t. What expectations (internal or external) drove that behavior? What might it look and feel like for you to embrace who you truly are in that situation now?
Today’s LIVE meditation
Q&A for deeper learning
1. What is the article’s main idea about authenticity?
The article suggests that authenticity is less about showing the world who you are and more about the internal process of discovering who you truly are by letting go of who you think you’re supposed to be and unraveling the constructed self.
2. How does Brené Brown’s definition of authenticity differ from common understandings?
Commonly, authenticity is seen as outwardly expressing your true colors. Brené Brown’s perspective, highlighted in the article, emphasizes the inward journey of letting go of perceived expectations and embracing your genuine self.
3. What role does meditation play in becoming more authentic, according to the article?
Drawing on John Welwood’s view, the article suggests meditation helps in “unraveling the self we’ve been trying to construct,” which aligns with the process of uncovering one’s authentic self by letting go of imposed identities.
4. Why does the author say that what we thought was “us” might not be our authentic self?
The author posits that many of our self-perceptions are formed by fears and external voices absorbed throughout life, particularly in childhood. The authentic self lies beneath these layers.
5. What is the relationship between authenticity and love, according to the article?
The article states that the only path to love is through being completely authentic with yourself about who you are, implying that self-acceptance and truthfulness are foundational for experiencing and sharing love.
6. Is authenticity presented as a final state or an ongoing process?
The article emphasizes that authenticity is a continuous exploration, not a destination, encouraging readers to embrace the journey and not be afraid of the messiness involved in self-discovery.