|
Have you ever noticed how good it feels to simply be yourself, regardless of what anyone else thinks about you?
If you’ve wrestled with the fear of not being good enough or of being judged for your imperfections, authenticity can set you free.
It starts by giving yourself permission to be true to yourself. That means honoring your feelings, setting healthy boundaries, living in alignment with your values, and sometimes having the courage to be open and vulnerable.
Authenticity doesn't mean that we share everything with everyone. It means that we stop abandoning ourselves in order to gain approval, avoid judgment, or fit someone else's expectations.
What Authenticity Taught Me
One of my biggest fears was public speaking.
Even the thought of getting on stage in front of a room full of strangers filled me with anxiety. But since life is our greatest teacher, my spirit seemed to be directing me toward exactly what I feared. I was being called to become a public speaker.
I followed that guidance by starting Satori Hawaii, Inc. in my mid-30s, a corporate wellness company specializing in stress management seminars and team-building programs.
At first I built my confidence by meeting with CEOs and corporate meeting planners to explain the benefits of investing in the health and wellbeing of their company by teaching them how to reduce stress, increase energy, and cultivate greater team spirit.
Those meetings went so well that I felt confident about what we had to offer.
Then came the day I had to present one of my first corporate seminars to an audience of corporate executives.
Once I stepped onto the stage, I experienced a battle within myself. One part of me wanted to run away, while another part was determined to stay and teach Energetics: How to Reduce Stress and Increase Energy.
But my nervous system was so activated that I could barely breathe.
There’s a saying that we teach what we most need to learn. That was certainly true for me in that moment.
The structure of my seminar was designed to begin with the “why” before moving into the “how.” But at the last minute, I decided to reverse the order.
I started by leading the participants through the experiential portion of my seminar which included breathing exercises, yoga, self-massage, and deep relaxation. I did it so that I could lower my own stress.
As we practiced the deep breathing exercises together, I felt my body begin to relax. My breathing slowed, my mind cleared, and I became more present. By the time we completed all four parts of Energetics, my confidence had returned, and I was able to complete the seminar with ease.
The shift was so dramatic that I confessed to the audience that I had changed the order of the seminar because I needed to calm my own nervous system first.
And then something beautiful happened.
Several participants told me afterward how much they appreciated what I had taught them. They also said that my authenticity was refreshing and made the seminar even more compelling.
It turned out that practicing what I was teaching wasn't just a good way to calm myself—it demonstrated the effectiveness of the program and connected me more deeply with my audience.
That experience gave me the confidence to continue my public speaking career. Over time, I became much more comfortable speaking to large audiences because I no longer felt that I had to be someone other than myself.
Looking back, I can see that authenticity is also a good way of taking care of ourselves.
We don't have to pretend to be someone we're not. We don't have to prove anything to anyone. And there can be tremendous strength in allowing ourselves to be vulnerable—when we do so with discernment.
Discernment, Courage, and Vulnerability
Sharing what’s going on in your inner world takes courage, but it also requires discernment.
Sharing everything with anyone who will listen isn't authenticity.
Authenticity asks us to be honest with ourselves first, and then to consider
why we are choosing to share something and whether it serves a meaningful purpose.
One purpose might be to enhance someone else's life by sharing something you've learned through your own lived experience. When we share from a place of wisdom rather than a need for validation, our vulnerability can become a gift.
Courage is another quality of authenticity because many of us have been taught to fit in, keep the peace, and to dim our light as a way to avoid making others feel uncomfortable.
We may have developed limiting beliefs about who we are and what we're capable of. Sometimes authenticity requires us to feel the fear and do it anyway—to step beyond an old belief and reinforce a new, more empowering one.
When I stood on that stage in front of a room full of strangers, my old limiting belief about not being good enough was the real source of my fear.
Fortunately, I had tools that helped me work with my stress response. Instead of allowing fear to stop me, I tapped into the love I had for the message I was sharing and used the experience as an opportunity for growth. And in doing so, I reinforced the belief that I was good enough.
Perhaps authenticity works the same way in all areas of our lives.
Every time we honor what we feel, speak our truth with confidence, establish a healthy boundary, or allow ourselves to be seen as we really are, we strengthen our relationship with ourselves.
We become less concerned with who we think we are supposed to be and more connected to who we truly are.
And perhaps that is where authenticity becomes a source of freedom.
Reflection
Take a few moments to reflect:
- Recall an experience when you had the courage to express yourself authentically. How did you feel afterward?
- What have you learned about vulnerability?
- Is there an area of your life where you are still trying to be who you think others want you to be?
- How could you open more fully to authenticity?
- Are you willing to share your experiences with purpose, courage, and discernment?
Mantras for This Week
I am opening to authenticity.
I am courageous in my relationships.
I express myself with love.
I honor who I truly am.
Journey of Openness
This is the fourth article in my series for The Satori Experience called Journey of Openness.
I'd love to invite you into The Satori Experience as a safe space for you to come home to yourself one sacred journey at a time.
This week, I'm also sharing a brand-new guided meditation: Opening to Authenticity, as part of The Satori Experience.
Members also have access to my video: Energetics. This is the same series I taught to corporate groups for many years to reduce stress and increase energy.
You can join the community for free and begin exploring the teachings at your own pace. And if you feel called to go deeper, the paid membership gives you access to the full experience that includes guided meditations, transformational tools, and instructional videos.
If you're interested in becoming the most authentic version of yourself, I would be honored to support you on your journey.
👉 Learn more or join here: The Satori Experience on Patreon
With love and light,
Carol Gutzeit
| 
