by Lynn Banis PhD -
We are hearing an awful lot these days about living an authentic life. It is bandied about like the word empowerment was several years ago. What does it mean anyway and how do you live an authentic life? This article will try to shed some light on both of these questions.
Authentic life - what is it?
Does that mean my life is not real? Not at all. Everyone's life is real it just may not be reflective of the real you.
We were created to be calm, unstressed, happy, creative, loving, optimistic, open, responsible and flexible but something happens along the path of our lives that makes us put some of those things in a closet and act otherwise.
Just think of a little child. Children are authentic. They call it like they see it. They cry when they are hurt. They laugh when they are happy. They express their feelings readily.
Adults have become reticent and bound by the rules and norms of adult living. Our lives are real but they may not be reflective of who are at in our heart of hearts.
Carl Jung, the famous psycho-therapist once said. "Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart."
That is where you will find your real Truth - who and what you are. It is in your heart and in your soul. It is your Higher Self - that part of you that is love and light. It is that part of you that is guided by Divine Truth and Wisdom.
How in the world do you find out what your authenticity or Higher Self is?
A quote from Rumi says it all,
A good way to start is to make a list of the things you do not want or embody.
Somehow it is easier than identifying what you want. Once you have your list made you can look to the positive of each of the things you have written to give yourself some insight into what you do want.
When you have done that create a statement of what your Higher Self is all about.
Align that with your values and beliefs and you will have a guide to living authentically. You will find it is not always easy to do. You will also find that it s exhilarating and immensely satisfying.
Authentic life - what is it?
Does that mean my life is not real? Not at all. Everyone's life is real it just may not be reflective of the real you.
We were created to be calm, unstressed, happy, creative, loving, optimistic, open, responsible and flexible but something happens along the path of our lives that makes us put some of those things in a closet and act otherwise.
Just think of a little child. Children are authentic. They call it like they see it. They cry when they are hurt. They laugh when they are happy. They express their feelings readily.
Adults have become reticent and bound by the rules and norms of adult living. Our lives are real but they may not be reflective of who are at in our heart of hearts.
Carl Jung, the famous psycho-therapist once said. "Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart."
That is where you will find your real Truth - who and what you are. It is in your heart and in your soul. It is your Higher Self - that part of you that is love and light. It is that part of you that is guided by Divine Truth and Wisdom.
How in the world do you find out what your authenticity or Higher Self is?
A quote from Rumi says it all,
"Let the beauty you love be what you do."Finding your Higher Self or authenticity takes a lot of inner listening and connection to your heart's desire. It is finding your higher purpose in life. Many of us think that it is finding the career that is fulfilling and right for you but it is much deeper than that. It is finding out who you are.
A good way to start is to make a list of the things you do not want or embody.
Somehow it is easier than identifying what you want. Once you have your list made you can look to the positive of each of the things you have written to give yourself some insight into what you do want.
When you have done that create a statement of what your Higher Self is all about.
Align that with your values and beliefs and you will have a guide to living authentically. You will find it is not always easy to do. You will also find that it s exhilarating and immensely satisfying.
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