Small steps toward your authenticity can bring big rewards

Being authentic can be difficult for us people pleasers. We tend to be chameleons because we don’t want to risk upsetting others. What ends up happening, however, is that over time we forget who we are and what our needs, likes and dislikes are. Because of conditioning and patterns, we lose ourselves and our own authenticity for the sake of others.

There is no shame in knowing that has been your pattern. In fact, recognizing it is a wonderful thing - congratulations! You are on your way to taking steps toward your own authenticity and true self!

Think about small things you can do, or small steps you can take toward your authentic self. Make a list of things YOU really love to do. It doesn’t have to be a big list and you can add to it as time goes on. Even if it’s just one thing, that’s enough. Ask yourself why you love to do these things. How does feel in your body when you do these activities - do you feel lighter? Where do you feel the lightness? What would happen if you took 5 minutes out of each day to do one thing you loved?

It’s almost like working a muscle - an “authenticity” muscle. When you can show yourself that doing things you truly love reap positive benefits for yourself, you’ll want to work that muscle more. Again, it doesn’t have to be a lot or something huge at first - take your time, lift small “weights” and continue to show yourself and your inner children that it’s safe to have your own needs and to be yourself. As you build that muscle, you can slowly expand it outward. There is no rush or timeline. Listen to yourself and your needs.