- How to Enhance Relationships,
Increase Fulfillment & Empower Yourself by Being Authentic
by Mike
Robbins
How often do you not say or do something because you're worried
about how it'll be perceived? For most of us, myself included,
this happens more often then we'd like to admit.
- We live in a culture that
is starving for authenticity. We want our leaders, our co-workers,
our family members, our friends, and everyone else we interact
with to tell us the truth and to be themselves. Most important,
we want to have the personal freedom and confidence to say, do,
and be who we really are, without worrying so much about how
we appear to others and what they might think or say about us.
Sadly, however, even though we may say we want to live in a way
that is true to our deepest passions, beliefs, and desires; most
of us don't and it's not that easy. We've been taught by our
parents, teachers, spouses, friends, co-workers, politicians,
the media, and others, that it's more important to be liked and
to fit in than it is to be who we truly are. In addition, many
of us assume that who we are is not good enough and therefore
we're constantly trying to fix ourselves, or to act like others
who we think are better than us.
However, as the famous 19th century author and poet Oscar Wilde
so brilliantly stated, "Be yourself, everyone else is already
taken."
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What It Really Means to Be
Authentic
Authenticity is about enjoying a new sense of freedom to be who
we really are--ourselves, natural and without a mask in our relationships,
our work, and our life. It takes courage, commitment, and depth
to:
- Look within ourselves
- Tell the whole truth (even when we don't want to)
- Be vulnerable
- Admit, own, and share our true thoughts, feelings, desires,
insecurities, passions, embarrassment, dreams, and more.
However, being open and real about all of these things (and more)
is what it means to be authentic in life.
Five Principles for Being Your Authentic Self
In order to utilize the power of authenticity in your life as
a way to enhance your relationships, increase your fulfillment,
and empower yourself, here are five key principles:
1) Know Yourself - Make a commitment to your own personal growth.
Discover more of who you are. And, seek out and allow the support,
honest feedback, and guidance of others.
2) Transform Your Fear - There's nothing wrong with having fear,
it's the resistance and denial of fear that is the real problem.
When you admit, own, feel, and express your fear, you have the
ability to move through it, transform it, and utilize its power
in a positive way. Taking action in the face of fear is courageous
and empowering.
3) Express Yourself - Have the courage to speak your truth boldly.
Deal with conflicts directly. Express your emotions fully. Be
vulnerable and real about what you think and how you feel. While
on the surface you may worry that this will be seen as "weak,"
in actuality expressing yourself completely gives you access
to real freedom and power.
4) Be Bold - Live, speak, and act with courage, passion, and
truth – even if it's difficult or scary. Go for what you
want in your work and in your life. And get back up when you
fall down, which you will.
5) Celebrate Who You Are - Appreciate and honor who you are,
what you do, and the gifts and talents that you have. Celebrating
yourself is not about being arrogant. It's an awareness of your
own power and it's the key to self-confidence, fulfillment, and
authenticity.
Being your authentic self is not for the faint of heart, but
once you're willing to truly engage and do the work to become
more real - your life, your work, and your relationships will
be more exciting, meaningful, and fulfilling!
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The Author: |
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Mike Robbins is a best-selling
author and personal growth expert who empowers people just like
you with more freedom and confidence in their work, in their
relationships and in life. Now you can get a FREE Sneak Preview
to his NEW book: Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken
(Hardcover, Wiley) and learn how to transform your life with
the power of authenticity at: http://www.beyourselfbook.com/about-book.htm
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Article Posted: January 20, 2009 |
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Related Links |
Related Books |
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