Embracing Who We Are
Authenticity is a word that gets tossed around quite a bit. It’s especially common in the entrepreneur world. And nothing brings out the inauthentic quality in people than when money (and ego) are involved.Today, however, I’m going to focus on the non-entrepreneur.
To be nobody-but-yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody but yourself — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight — and never stop fighting. – E.E. Cummings
In her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown talks about authenticity as being the ability to let go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are. I love that simple description but I struggle with it at the same time.
When I created my first business, there was a time where I thought I was supposed to be everything to everyone – in my business and in my life. The things I do now for self-care were not even on my radar back then, which to me, are exactly a reflection of who I am and what I know I need to feel aligned and balanced in my life.
It’s the embracing who we are part that I struggle with most – you, too? When we aren’t fully embracing who we are, we’re not fully present in our lives and open to what may come to us. I’ve learned this lesson several times. It’s simply the hardest for me, too, because I am my own worst critic. I thought for a long time I needed fixing. As I, women, and mothers often experience, when we feel a part of us has slipped away – we struggle to get that back. Even today, I struggle at times to embrace who I fully am. It’s just so easy to feel like we’re flawed or broken.
The imperfections add character
I’m reminded of wabi-sabi, where pottery items that would be considered broken/defective to one person, in Zen Buddhism, the cracks add to its character – perfectly imperfect.
A dear friend of mine leads powerful lessons in self-acceptance and having trust within yourself. I can’t recommend her Lightworker LOVE course enough! It’s something you can listen to over and over.
We all struggle with full acceptance of ourselves. One thing I know to be true is that if you start working on yourself, the work must never stop. I’ve had to start again more than once. It’s a daily practice, and then also in forgiving yourself in the process.
