Live Authentically

Living our authentic self means honoring all parts of who we are. That includes our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. They allow the soul to express itself in this world. We tend to bury our thoughts, feelings, and emotions to please our family, friends, and society. We do not express happiness so that others don’t get jealous. We do not show sadness so that we don’t seem ungrateful. We hide our grief so that we don’t worsen someone else’s grief. We cover up our anger so that others don’t feel unsafe. By doing these things, we also bury who we truly are, the authentic self.  ​

Stuffing away our thoughts, feelings, and emotions takes a lot more effort than we realize. It drains our energy, and often leads to physical and mental illness. Think about it. The mind and body work together to maintain our health and well-being. If one is struggling, the other puts in extra work to compensate. If our mind does not take the time to process our thoughts, feelings, and emotions, our body will take on the load. If this goes on for too long, our body will then eventually burn out from the extra work. This burnout shows up as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, and other diseases. Isn’t that crazy? 

Many diseases would not be commonplace if we acknowledged and processed all our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Not some; all! Surprise, disgust, loneliness, calm, and courage all deserve to be felt and understood. That way, we can honor our authentic self while protecting our health and well-being.

Don't stuff away your feelings. Hiding your emotions is hiding who you are. Express yourself freely with the grace and fortitude you know is possible for you. If you struggle to do so, do not hesitate to ask for help. Whether it is a coach, therapist, mentor, or friend, there is someone who will understand you and support your journey to living authentically. You deserve to be you.