Develop yourself # 3

The latest blog that I have read recently.

Transformation Truth #3: Either you are truly being yourself or you aren’t.

"We would have to settle for the elegant goal of becoming ourselves."
—William Styron
As we interact with the world each day, we have a choice to make: Will we live authentically or adaptively?

When we choose to be authentic, we show the world our raw, unpainted, genuine self. We act in accordance with who we feel we are deep down inside. We live our values and follow our heart. We openly share our personality and passion with other people, and we use our distinctive strengths and talents in our work. Living like this makes us feel alive, connected, and “real.” It allows us to look into the mirror each morning with pride and say, “I’m being who I was meant to be—myself.”

Unfortunately, many of us don’t choose authenticity. Instead, we adapt to the world the way a chameleon does, changing our true colors in order to blend into the environment. We disguise who we really are in hopes of being accepted by others. We show the world an artificial, painted, synthetic self, a replica of who “they” want us to be rather than who we truly are. We swallow our true thoughts and feelings, hide our true passions, and underutilize our true gifts. Living like this makes us feel hollow, disconnected, and fake. It makes us avoid ourselves in the mirror in the morning and creates a repeating whimper in the back of our minds: “Please stop acting this way; it’s not the real you, and there’s someone special in here waiting to be let out.”

How are you living your life—as an original or as a copy?

Are you showing the world who you really are, or are you putting on a facade in order to fit in and be accepted? Is your life a declaration or an adaptation?

Are you playing the unique role you were given by God, or are you trying to act someone else’s part?

Read those questions again.

And again.

Now once more.

If you responded hesitantly to any of those questions, or you felt a little sad or sick at your stomach when answering them, it’s time to transform your life, and you know it. You must make it a priority to reconnect with your authentic self. Bring your true personality and passions back to the surface. Stop living someone else’s life, and start living your own. Start paying attention to the times you feel like you're being inauthentic and ask yourself, "What triggered this behavior? Who was I around? Is that how I want to act and who I want to be known as?"

It's rarely good advice to tell someone to be self-conscious, but what I'm suggesting is that you do just that -- be VERY attentive to what's making you tick during times you feel inauthentic.

What thoughts are running through your head and how can you "debate" them to ensure you no longer act like someone else?

If you feel you are living your most present, authentic and passionate self, then I ask this: are you using your strengths in this area to help others? Are you using your incredible energy and charisma to light other people up, to help them feel more accepted and more joyous?

This is the task of what I call miracle workers, and I honor you for your efforts here. If more people would light themselves up, and focus on lifting the energy of those around them, then I believe the spirit of our world would be vibrant, loving, and joyous.

Thank you, miracle worker.
Transformational Turning Points:
□ A time when I felt that I was being completely authentic was when…
□ I always know when I’m acting authentically, because I…
□ One area of my life where I’m consistently adapting and acting like someone else is when…
□ If I continue to show the world a facade and keep underutilizing my strengths, I’ll end up…
□ The last time I lit myself up, I turned my energy on, and helped fire other people up so that they could feel accepted and energized was...

Next week's Transformation Truth will likely frustrate you. (It's about your relationships). Stay tuned. Until then, stay focused on taking action on this week's Truth.

As you move forward, may the gates to possibility always swing wide open for you.

In friendship,

Masamir

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