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Each day we go out into the world and present who we are to others. But sometimes, unbeknownst to us, we present who we think we should be, or need to be. We may put on a false persona as a way to get the love and acknowledgment we deeply crave.
Our authentic self is who we are at the core of our being, but what if we’re not completely sure who we are at our core? If we aren’t living our lives from that genuine place within, we can easily convince ourselves that we’re someone other than who we truly are. Then, before we know it, we’re living inauthentically — and there’s a price to pay for it.
It’s Hard to Be Who We’re Not
It’s much harder to be who we’re not than who we truly are. We have to keep up a façade, as if we’re wearing a mask, and after a while that can be frustrating, exhausting, and even detrimental to our well-being.
If we’re not authentic, we can become dishonest to others and ourselves, and at some point that dishonesty can begin to affect us both mentally and physically. We may notice that we don’t feel like we want to put ourselves out there, or engage as much with others, or hold back from entering into relationships for fear of being seen for who we really are. We can become lethargic and depressed.
Being Genuine and Real (Authentic)
The definition of authentic is “genuine” and “real.” In other words, our authentic self is the combination of all our true qualities and characteristics. I like to describe authenticity as “living our truth in the present moment.”
But, it’s not always easy to live our truth or be true to who we are when we want to conceal certain aspects of ourselves we may not love. Yet once we start to hide our realness, it can slip away from us, and we can start to live in conflict with our true nature. Eventually, we might not know how to return to our true selves.
Soul-Searching Questions to Ask Yourself
A good way to know if you’re living inauthentically is to ask yourself some soul-searching questions. Ask yourself:
-Do I let people see who I really am?
-Do I feel that who I am is enough?
-Am I unafraid to show my authentic self to everyone?
-What is the most lovable thing about my authentic self?
-Do I love my authentic self?
You have earned the right to be your most authentic self, especially if you’ve suffered from being who you’re not. If you’ve had to pretend or fake who you are in an attempt to achieve something or to be loved, now is the perfect time to say “enough!”
Mindfulness Can Help You Live Your True Nature
Mindfulness is a wonderful practice to help guide you when you’re in need of finding and living in your true nature. It’s a way of calming your over-active mind and being in the present moment.
Through mindfulness, you connect to what you’re feeling with heightened awareness and compassion. If or when you find yourself wanting to be who you’re not, it immediately reminds you that who you are is enough — as if whispering in your ear, “You are loveable” or “Your authentic self is magnificent.”
Mindful Meditation
Use this mindful meditation to connect to self:
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Find a quiet place to sit and close your eyes.
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Note the moment: any sounds, thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.
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Tell yourself it’s okay to let everything and everyone go.
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Put your focus and awareness on your breath.
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Take a few deep breaths in and out.
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If your mind begins to wander at any time, bring your focus and awareness back to your breath, which will always bring you back to the present moment.
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Ask silently, “Who am I?”
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Say silently, “Let my true self reveal who I am.”
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Say silently, “Let me realize love, acceptance, and non-judgment.”
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Repeat this to yourself as many times as you wish.
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When you’re ready, bring your focus and awareness back to your body and gently open your eyes.
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Take the time you need to transition out of your meditation.
When you determine who you are authentically, you can stay on the path of awareness and connect to your benevolent self. Let yourself be seen for you who are. Your authentic self will thank you for letting it shine!
Copyright 2024 by Ora Nadrich. All Rights Reserved.
Book by this Author:
BOOK: Mindfulness and Mysticism
Mindfulness and Mysticism: Connecting Present Moment Awareness with Higher States of Consciousness
by Ora Nadrich.
At a time when chaos in our culture is staggeringly upsetting, and millions are sensing there must be something 'more' but have no idea what it is, a book like Mindfulness and Mysticism paves a path beyond confusion. It speaks to the mind as well as to the heart, both explaining the mystical and leading us into it where we can realize a connection to something greater - the divine within us.
Ora Nadrich provides a traveler's companion from the delusional maze of a desacralized world, to the calm and inner peace that Mindfulness can offer.
Click here for more info and/or to order this book. Also available as a Kindle edition and as a hardcover.
More books by this Author
About the Author
Ora Nadrich is a pioneering Mindfulness expert, international keynote speaker and coach, and the founder and president of the Institute for Transformational Thinking.
A sought-after expert in the fields of Mindfulness, transformational thinking and self-discovery, she is the author of Says Who? How One Simple Question Can Change the Way You Think Forever, and Live True: A Mindfulness Guide to Authenticity, named “one of the 100 Best Mindfulness Books of All Time” by BookAuthority, Mindfulness and Mysticism: Connecting Present Moment Awareness with Higher States of Consciousness, and Time to Awaken: Changing the World with Conscious Awareness.
Learn more at oranadrich.com.
