The first of the AND/life pillars seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how much work it takes to incorporate this strategy into your daily life. Practicing personal authenticity is about embracing all that makes you who you are and acting accordingly. Knowing who you are and who you’re not.
Here’s the truth about me - a couple years ago I figured out that I really wanted to do three things: take piano lessons, French lessons, and tennis lessons. It didn’t require any serious soul-searching or meditation retreats to figure out what I wanted, I just had to listen to myself and choose to do something about it. So, without the budget to do so, I carved out the time to take a weekly tennis lesson. These tennis lessons were just a sliver out of my week, but they left me feeling positive and ready to tackle greater things. I became the CEO of my own company a week after my first tennis lesson.
Now, let’s talk about what I am not. I am NOT a PTA mom. Don’t get me wrong - I respect the hell out of PTA moms, but I’m not one of them. Acknowledging and accepting this frees up my time and mental space to focus on my kids and myself in more personally meaningful ways. Don’t waste time doing things that aren’t aligned with who you are. Invest that time in what truly matters to you.
So how do you actually “practice” personal authenticity? Every night, maybe while brushing your teeth, check in about your true nature and desires: how did you spend your time, what made you feel happy, when did you feel most like yourself, when did you feel like you were trying to be someone you’re not? Recognizing and then honoring the patterns that emerge from your daily answers will help power your life forward.