Authenticity

We travel an amazing journey as we progress in our lives. We go from total dependence on our parents, to some connecting with our peers to advancing our academics and at the same time our personality and our talents come into bloom. If you ever watch kids they can go about things with wreckless abandon and have the courage to go to school with five different colors, none of which match, and shoes of even a different color and they step inside completely confident with what they've picked out to wear for the day. They don't yet get caught up in what other people think. They just are.

It's sad to think that we spend our whole lives trying to get back to the way we start out - just being ourselves. As we grow and mature we start to squash part of ourselves in order to fit in or to conform. We want so much to belong. We become less honest with ourselves and with others and soon we are keeping secrets and only revealing tidbits of ourselves to people instead of allowing them to know our whole selves. It becomes exhausting trying to manage who knows what part of us and with whom we can let our guard down.

When we're truly integrated with ourselves, we are not afraid for anyone to know us totally, much luck children let it all hang out. Isn't is amazing to think that we have this knowledge as kids but we spend a lifetime trying to learn it as we grow? We all have challenging stages to endure but in the long run, if we have open hearts and minds we'll be able to be honest with ourselves and anyone who crosses our path.

This week I am giving you permission to let go of the secrets. Be yourself and take the risk. The truth is if what you're hiding from someone is something that they can't accept about you then the relationship wasn't really a relationship anyway. Seek truly authentic relationships and then you'll discover what you've been missing all along.

Stop by for a dose of courage of you need to this week!

Warmly,
Andrea