What we believe, constitutes how we behave – who we are, and what we desire. If I believe that brushing my teeth twice a day will ensure that I will have healthy teeth, I will brush my teeth religiously. Moreover, if I believe in myself, I will show up for myself everyday religiously. What are the steps to finding our authenticity? What are the steps towards believing in ourselves? Below are three basic steps. Come with me on this journey to self-empowerment.
Step One: If I am not myself, who am I?
First, let’s recognize the internal narrative and investigate what we believe our roles to be. This takes courage as many belief systems are not opened to being examined nor questioned. One belief that I recognize is that we must become who and what they want and/or tell us to be, as opposed to who we truly are within. A belief that is not up to the challenge of investigation, is a belief that has fallacies and/or weak ideology. Let’s challenge what they told us to believe about ourselves.
I recommend that we take pause and listen to the internal narrative. The story that we have within our psyche – within our mind, within our soul, within our spirit. The story that continues to play and replay within us. Where did this story come from? Maybe, this narrative was created through the bloodline/our DNA. Maybe, this narrative was created within our childhood. Maybe, this narrative was created due to our lived experience. But there must be more than this story – the authentic you beyond their story.
Once we take pause and listen to our collective and our individual stories – the internal narrative… this is where the healing begins. To hear the story that we continue to tell ourselves – shows what we believe about ourselves; hence, how we are showing up – this is where our courage comes in. There is always something beyond what we are currently experiencing. So, let’s come together and support each other and understand who we truly are within this lifetime.
Step Two: Give yourself permission to be yourself.
At this time in our history, so many of us are recognizing these stories that we have been told about who we are supposed to be – and we are not aligning with them. We are looking to heal from what they told us about who we are, what we are supposed to be, and what role we played within the order of our lives. This may widely differentiate from our authentic nature – who we truly are to be. If you have been written into a story line that does not align with your authentic inner voice, take a step back and listen to your inner authentic voice.
I invite you on this journey with me to discover your personal truth. This is a paradigm shift for those of us who were raised to believe that we are here to play a role that fits with everyone else’s narrative rather than our own. This is a common occurrence – to step up and heed the voice of the other and to respond without asking questions. Let’s flip the script. At this moment, take pause and take courage – listen to the still small voice within you… the one who knows you, the one who created you, the one who is you!
It takes courage to question something that is an unspoken rule. It takes courage to say that “The Emperor has no clothes”. Be courageous! Courage and curiosity are what causes positive change, open-mindedness, and freedom/liberty for all. Give yourself permission to find your authentic expression; and to show up in the world as your greatness!
Step Three: Self-discovery & road to believing in yourself?
If I believe in myself, as much as I believed in what they told me – I would be on fire! Here is a quick, yet powerful exercise. It helps us to relax, to self-discover, and to be empowered. I invite you to engage in this quick exercise to ground, center, and to hear your authentic voice.
Place the tips of your fingers together. Thumb to thumb, index to index, middle finger to middle finger etc… Now breathe in through the nose for a few moments, hold that breath for a few moments, exhale through the mouth for a few moments, and repeat for two to three minutes – just breathe. Relax. How do you feel? Do you feel more grounded and centered? This means that you are more in touch with yourself – your authenticity. Now you are in the space to authentically answer any questions that you may have. You know which way to go.
Did you know that you are here for something authentic? Deep down, I believe that you know this. Do you know that you are whole, exactly the way that you are for a reason? You are not broken; you are authentic. You are you, and that is the best thing that you can be! The road to authenticity is right in front of you. It is you – I believe in you!
Do this breathing exercise at least twice a day (morning and evening), you can do this more if you wish. Maybe do this exercise every time that you need to make a decision. Your inner voice will lead you. It is your compass and the map to your authentic expression. Breathe and approach life with curiosity. This is the way that you came into this world – curious. Be curious about what is occurring around you. It is a wonderful journey of asking questions, gaining answers, finding out what life has to offer, and what you offer life.
The more that you practice this, the more that your life will begin to move in a positive direction for your self-expression. The more that this happens, the more you will be able to believe in yourself. It is not the voice of the others that we need to listen to; we have been listening to that loud and clear for our whole lives. We need to learn how to listen to our inner voice. Slowly, but surely, balance the external voice with the internal voice. There is a balance; however, you have the right to be YOU. Be your greatness, as only you can be!
