Self-acceptance is the key to Authenticity

Authenticity ~a fancy term for “being yourself.”

In a world full of facades, fake relationships, imposter syndrome, comparison, and trying to do what the Jones are doing, authenticity seems like a far-fetched idea. 

I’ve even wondered why the heck we even have to have these conversations? Weren’t we created to be ourselves? Fully expand into the wholeness of who we are? So, where did we go wrong? 

I honestly don’t have that answer, but  I can offer a few observations from my people-watching hobby that I enjoy a little too much HAHA. Human behavior is so fascinating and one of my favorite topics… but I digress, more on that at a different time

Okay, why is it so hard for us to just be ourselves the way it was intended? 

You might think there’s something wrong with you because you’re constantly comparing yourself to others. Wishing that you had what that IG model, your favorite entrepreneur or influencer, has and genuinely wanting to be them since their life looks fantastic! 

The thing is, though, you have been conditioned (through your society and environment) to do everything other than being yourself. How? Just watch the media. How many skinny pills, beauty products, gadgets, and everything else are intended to make you a consumer by promising a better YOU?

In our consumer society, the message is and has been, “you are not good enough as you are, but here’s this magic product that will make you become like this person right here.” 

And these messages are everywhere! Billboards, TV, social media, your daily life, etc. You are constantly bombarded with messages telling you that you aren’t attractive, intelligent, beautiful, hardworking, or productive enough (the list is longer, but you get what I’m saying). 

So what do you do when this has been your environment and conditioning? How do you go from hiding who you really are to accepting yourself?

By starting to see the good in yourself and breaking up with the belief that anything outside of who you are is better. 

I know it sounds like a tall order if you’ve never liked yourself, let alone know how your environment plays a role, but it’s not impossible. I recommend you start by identifying one thing you really like about yourself and why. Revel in that feeling of appreciation. Then find another thing that you choose to appreciate no matter what messages are constantly bombarding you. 

By doing this, you are boosting up your self-awareness and confidence in who you are. You are rewiring your mind from continually looking outwards to feel good about yourself to starting to love and appreciate who you are right here, right now. Within time, you will start accepting all the parts of you that you really don’t like. You will realize that contrary to popular belief, you are quite fantastic! And that, my friend, is where your freedom to begins. It is the moment you decide to believe that you were put on this planet to experience the expansion of who you really are instead of hiding your awesomeness for a copycat version of somebody else. 

Additionally, f you really and truly believe something in your life needs to change, do it for you and not for anyone else. Get in the habit of believing in your inherent worthiness as a Soul on this earth journey then make decisions from that place. 

Some ways that help you get into the habit of being yourself are:

• Setting alarms on your phone with a daily reminder that YOU ARE ENOUGH 
• Writing yourself sticky notes and putting them in places around your house/car
• Unfollowing and blocking out people that are not conducive to the new changes you’re making (in real life and on socials)
• Setting internal boundaries on what you choose to consume and allow into your Being
• Finding a community of people that encourage you to be authentic
• Starting a journal practice to get all the self-deprecating ideas out of my head and onto paper (a truly cathartic experience)

The most significant shift was realizing that no one can be you the way you can be you. Unfortunately, while you wish you were someone else, you are losing out on the magnitude of the wholeness of who you are. 

You were put on planet earth to expand into everything you were created to be. As you accept this fact, living authentically to who you really are will become easier as the days go by.

You deserve to experience your journey on earth as the fullest, sauciest, most badass version of yourself!

Let me know in the comments what authenticity means to you.

In Love & Light,

Joy