Being Authentic, To Me, Means...

Walking your own path,

Not staying where your soul doesn’t want to be,

Giving your soul space and rest when it feels constrained,

Giving from the heart, not just to receive in return,

Expressing your truth in all circumstances,

Staying loyal to your emotions, not suppressing them, and distancing yourself from places where you cannot express them,

Protecting your boundaries, being able to say no, knowing your limits,

Knowing what you want and don’t want, and journeying toward what you truly desire,

Recognizing that you’re on the path of becoming,

Facing your fears with courage and acknowledging all the shadow sides you project outward, embracing and loving them,

Not clinging to identities, breaking free from those hardened shells each time they form,

Being curious,

Being in a state of exploration,

Having the humility to say, “I don’t know,”

Bravely expressing the truth in every situation,

Starting over again and again,

Becoming aware of the prisons you’ve built for yourself and finding your way back to where you began each time,

Forgiving yourself through the lessons others bring,

Examining your beliefs with courage and allowing yourself to break free from them, no matter how old you are or how much of your life you’ve built around them,

Making mistakes, owning them by saying, “I made a mistake,” and accepting them as learning experiences to continue moving forward,

Allowing yourself to feel your emotions but also having the courage to confront them so they don’t control you—greeting the parts of yourself you’ve never acknowledged,

Not betraying yourself for acceptance or approval,

Recognizing your needs and understanding what drives your actions, while seeking ways to meet those needs without overstepping others’ boundaries or causing harm,

Being aware of others’ needs and showing empathy for them.