“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”
~ C.G. Jung“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.”
~ Brené Brown
It’s Monday (or almost Monday if you don’t live in Australia like me!), and this week I have some important advice for you.
This week, do everything you possibly can to be yourself. Speak with your own voice, write in your own voice, dress to reflect your values and personality, in relationships be you, in business be you.
This might be hard if you haven’t been yourself for a while. You may even need to go spend time with yourself to remember what you truly enjoy, or to discover or uncover your true tastes and preferences. As a writer or an artist or a creative you may need some self-examination and experimentation.
You may need to dig deep.
But I promise, there is magic in being your authentic self.
So I encourage you…
Be you.
You may have no idea of the power of that.
In the modern world we are surrounded by clones. People who dress the same, people who speak using the same words and phrases, people who think the same and who offer the same-same-same. This is true of big businesses and small businesses too. So much of what you see are outright copies or weak dilations of the same themes and concepts.
In a world where there is so much competition, and so much fakery, all you need to do to truly stand out is to be yourself.
In business, or thinking of starting one? The tracking of purchasing decisions shows a growing movement towards arthouse, bespoke pieces, to brands and products with history, story and authenticity. Many buyers want to make an emotional connection. They crave authentic and individual over commercial and mass-produced. Your story connects with them and validates them. Your individuality helps them to define themselves.
In work, in love, in what you teach, in what you share, in your creations and your home space, in how you dress and speak and live, just be who you are.
Trying to be someone else, trying to copy someone else won’t work unless you truly resonate with what they are doing.
You really can succeed doing it your way, and staying true to you. In fact, that is your magic. Your own personal secret ingredient.
When you build your life or your business with integrity it might be a slower process but it will have a steady foundation and chances are it will stay built.
Your gift to the world is your authentic self. It’s who you came here to be. There is nothing more powerful or dynamic than that. Nothing more beautiful or true.
Be you. That’s your gift. That’s your magic.
