Embracing an Authentic Life
As I reflect on how codependent tendencies show up in my daily life, I notice that sharing my full authentic self with others can still be a challenge for me. I have a tendency to keep the focus off myself, asking others questions about themselves and not providing many details about what is happening in my own life. I am so accustomed to caring what others think of me and wanting to present as the person who “has it all together,” especially because I am a mental health provider. In truth, no one has it together 24/7 because that is not realistic for humans going through the ups-and-downs of daily life. And I know that deep, genuine, and meaningful social connection occurs when we are vulnerable with one another. That is how we relate to others and feel less alone in this world. Therefore, I am making a conscious effort to be more open and honest with people in my life - sharing my truth rather than just what I think they expect or want to hear. It is definitely outside of my comfort zone, and I decided to write about it here as a way to hold myself accountable and practice vulnerability.
As we enter the summer season, I invite you to focus on authenticity in your relationships with others. Spend some time reflecting on what living authentically means to you. What does it look like? Why is it such a challenge? And what are the benefits of letting others in more fully to your real lived experience? Consider journaling about small ways that you can step into deeper authenticity in at least one aspect of your life. While it can be scary, the results are rewarding in so many ways, including a deeper connection to self, more genuine relationships, and releasing the need to be perfect. Our worth does not stem from what we do for others, how well we perform, or what we produce. Our worth comes from within and is our birthright simply because we exist.
For me, I plan to share more with family and friends about how I’m really doing - the good, bad, and ugly. In addition to asking questions about others, I will give more details about my life and allow people to provide support when I need it. I also plan to share more with my Let Go With Lo community about the areas of my life that I am working on to demonstrate vulnerability here. Join me in embracing this summer mantra: I live authentically and trust that it is safe to let people see the real me.
