Oscar Wilde said it concisely, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
You are unique and different just by being alive (even if you are an identical twin)!
Of course most of us fought this concept kicking and screaming when we were adolescents…we put all our effort into belonging to our “group” and did what we could to be acknowledged and accepted by the others. This had an evolutionary advantage back when we depended upon the inclusion, therefore protection, of our “clan” for basic survival. No one was picked on, or left behind, for being too normal.
Then there are those among us who have always marched to the beat of a very different drummer; they have opened new doors and blazed new trails…usually at the expense of some or all of themselves (several examples probably just came to mind). Do we have to go to extremes to embrace and celebrate our uniqueness?
The answer to this question depends upon really knowing oneself. We spend so much time in school learning a profession or trade, studying multiplication tables and vocabulary words, being groomed for what we are going to do, but not for understanding who we are growing to be. And that last part is the key, isn’t it, to just about everything….
“This above all: to thine own self be true….” Even if you’re not a fan of Shakespeare, who could argue against this point? So what we’re talking about here is being authentic. Though in some circles the word has become trite, the concept is not. Who you are at your core determines the meaning life has for you, and the meaning you bring to others’ lives.
Do not hide behind this premise, you are not being inauthentic if you:
– are adapting to a new situation and trying to find your way (as long as you know your core values)
– are courageously moving out of your comfort zone to expand your horizons
– are pretending for a while until you feel it (as in, acting confident although you are nervous)
– are momentarily behaving “in authentically” though your intention is authentic (flirting with a stranger you really want to meet even though you are shy – maybe tell him that!)
* In other words, feeling uncomfortable is not the same as being inauthentic.
We are surrounded by in authenticity in our world (fake news, office politics, even our own friends BS us occasionally and tell us what we want to hear). This makes us hunger even more for the truly meaningful; we are attracted to celebrities and politicians e.g. whom we believe to be “real,” we yearn for those moments of “mutual authenticity” with other people….
Have you been masquerading as someone you’re not? Do you regularly compromise what you feel is right? This can be exhausting for you and detrimental to your business. Be aware as you move through your day when these moments come up – then have a chuckle at yourself, you just forgot who you were for second! We all have fears, false assumptions and limiting beliefs that get in our way. If it’s more than just periodically and really handicapping your life, we are here for you…follow us on Facebook, and please contact us at any time for extra assistance. https://www.facebook.com/dawncady.mindsetcoach/
