Cultivating Authenticity – Reclaim Your Life
I’m now into Week 2 of Rene Brown’s eCourse “Gifts of Imperfection” and it’s been quite a ride already. It’s amusing how life unfolds at a pace or sequence we did not pre-plan. And yet it unfolds perfectly planned if we take a step back to look at things wholeheartedly. If you’re on your path to reclaim your life, you probably understand this already.
Yep! I’m already able to apply some gifts of imperfection as I put this blog post together. I had not planned to add Yet One More Thing to my current plate even though I had no doubt this would be a great Personal Growth eCourse.
I had heard about the book from someone else, the description of it sounded interesting, so I purchased it and it had been sitting on the bookshelf awaiting me to crack it open.
Next, I watched both Lifeclass episodes of her talking with Oprah and was even more intrigued! It was not just her message but the timing of that theme in my own life. I knew it was time to really tackle those things she was talking about on the show and apparently in her book.
This week’s book reading and creative activities are on Guidepost #1 – Cultivating Authenticity. I’ve been reflecting on some simple yet overlooked myths many of us have about authenticity.
- Authenticity is not a one-time event, it’s a practice.
- A person is not simply (and completely) either authentic or not
- A person can be very authentic in a set of situations yet completely disconnect & inauthentic when stressed
Authenticity is a CONTINUAL practice. And it’s most important to exercise those mental muscles when we’re feeling more tired or stressed than normal. It’s very easy to be honest and authentic when we feel safe. There’s no challenge or growth with that choice when feeling completely comfortable.
How can you start to show more authenticity in your life today?
How can you show up ESPECIALLY when it’s not so comfortable or safe to do so?
How can you start to, as written on the book cover, “let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are”?
As you continue to take steps to Reclaim Your Life, the choice of authenticity can be a powerful tool in your toolkit.
by Sean O’Meara 