If there’s one thing I’m convinced of, it’s my belief that daily joy and happiness is exponentially increased when one key factor is met — authenticity. Showing up in the world as I am requires courage. Walking my path, my way, requires courage. Living from the inside out requires courage.
How did I find the courage to live authentically? I learned to activate my inner Braveheart.
Growing up, I was frequently exposed to behavior that led me to believe that what other people thought about me was more important than what I thought about myself. I can’t say how it happened, but I recall as a teenager thinking how silly this belief was. Somehow I knew that my personal thoughts and feelings were more important to how I lived my life than what others thought.
Deep down I knew I was born for a purpose and that no one else could know what that reason was better than I.
Why should I shrink from my destiny just because it’s easier than rocking the proverbial boat?
Once I learned how to tap into my inner Braveheart, not only was walking my path easier, it was also more joyful. Living with authenticity has allowed me to accomplish things my friends and family told me I would never do. I’ve traveled the world. I’ve written and published several books. I’ve taken risks that made others shudder but brought me abundant excitement and joy.
If I had listened to the naysayers, my life would look and feel very different. My light wouldn’t shine as brightly. And my work to motivate and inspire others would not exist. Living with authenticity has made me happier because I feel on purpose. I’m proudly showing up in the world singing my song, dancing my dance.
Simple Questions, Transformational Answers
The Braveheart journey beings with simple questions that, when you answer with your personal truth, can yield transformative answers. For example, what would it take for you to trust your intuition and believe that whatever path you choose will be the right one for you?
The process of asking is what allows you to turn inward to seek answers that will — if you acknowledge them with action — change your life. It’s the answers that shed light on who you truly are. That is the version of you to share with the world, because that is the real you, be it poet, dancer, teacher, lover, philanthropist, traveler, volunteer, mother… only you know. And while those who love you may have an inkling of who you are and what you desire in life, no one will ever know you better than you know yourself.
Deepen Your Mind, Body, Spirit Connection
Once you have revealed the inner you, the next step of the journey is about connection! It’s about aligning your mind, body, and soul to support the birth of the new you to the world. Thinking back to your birth into the world, do you think the Spirit within that newborn child was meant to be snuffed out? Of course not! It was intended to be the light of your lifetime, the spark of your divine!
What happens as we mature into adults is that we pick up faulty programming along the way. This programming, over time, disconnects us from the mind, body, spirit connection. Reestablishing those spiritual birth connections are life changing. All it takes is the willingness to turn inward and listen to the call of your heart and soul, and the courage to take action on the information you receive. When you truly love, respect, and trust yourself, you’ll know, without fail, how to authentically show up in the world!
Release, Reboot & Reconnect to Your Dreams
With knowing comes responsibility. You ask, and the answer is given. What you do with the information makes all the difference. Your success is virtually foolproof when you have the willingness to release what no longer serves you, reboot your life with your updated software, and reconnect to the purpose for which you were born.
Successfully navigating the challenges that pop up along the way to test you will be critical to your successful transformation. There are common barriers that anyone following a dream has to face. Sometimes obstacles become permanent roadblocks to progress; but, it doesn’t have to be that way. There is a lot of truth to the adage, Where there’s a will, there’s a way, especially when your journey is divinely inspired. Once you release, reboot, and reconnect to your inner passion and dreams, there’s nothing to stop you from living your best life every day.
Shoot for the Stars
Life is a process of sleeping, waking, being, and doing. When we upgrade our computer software, the first thing we do is reboot to check that everything we need is still there and working. The same applies to a personal reboot. Once you delete the old programming that doesn’t serve you and replace it with a program that is authentic to you, it may take some practice until you can navigate with ease and flow. That means working with the new program, becoming familiar with its nuances, hidden tools, and leveraging it to its fullest potential. So I ask you, how can you supersize your deepest held dreams and desires? What would it take for you to shoot for the stars?
The process of learning how to connect with your dreams (and I mean big dreams) requires you to trust your intuition. And it all starts with the first brave step, and then the next step after that until you are living the life you always imagined — and then some.
Serve Others Through Your Actions
Think about it… it’s not just what might be missing from your life; it’s also about what might be missing from the world — you! Think of all the lives you touch — family, friends, clients, colleagues, communities. When you live your highest purpose, you are sharing the best of who you are with countless others. You are showing them how to live authentically, and in doing so, you are encouraging them to do the same. It’s powerful to recognize the positive difference you offer the world just by being one hundred percent you — no additives, no preservatives, nothing removed… just you!
Nothing excites me more than skipping through life with a joy-filled heart and nourishing the seeds of dreams planted in my heart. Unless of course, it’s helping women like you nourish the seeds of your dreams to live your best life every day!
Are you following your purpose and passion? What would it take for you to live with more authenticity?
