“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.”
~Brene Brown
While traveling I met a flight attendant who had a smile that lit up the plane. I watched as he interacted with each customer with such kindness, love and authenticity. As he passed through the cabin a third time, I told him that he had such a great smile and that he radiated. He replied, “I am just myself.”
What a lovely expression of authenticity! I am just myself!
But to be able to say that, you have to know who you truly are. I have worked with many clients over the past twenty-five years who have struggled to define who they really are because they have spent so much of their lives attending to other people’s needs.
One gift of self-nurturing is that it provides the opportunity to get to know yourself. Each act of self-nurturing offers you a chance to uncover your strengths and personal truths previously unknown or undeveloped.
Developing a relationship with yourself allows you to become aware of the wholeness of who you are and inspires you to be self-expressive as well as self-protective. It is only then that you can live authentically, fully connected to who you are in the present moment.
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” ~C.G. Jung
From this perspective choosing to nurture yourself then becomes a great act of love and courage. Without this vehicle for knowing yourself, you may end up playing many roles and positions in your life, but never being fully who you are meant to be.
So give yourself permission to be fully you! Choose to live authentically in your truth and beauty.
As Sravani Saha Nakhro wrote, “Being authentic is nothing more than the daily practice of releasing who you believe you should be and having the guts to be true to yourself.”
May you courageously embrace your truth and authenticity through the practice of self-nurturing and nurture peace in the world from the inside out!
Sending you so much peace, love and gratitude,
Kelley Grimes, M.S.W.
Counselor, Author & Speaker
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So appreciating this, Kelley, ““The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” ~C.G. Jung”
I had never read it.
These weather-challenging times are calling for me and each of us to TRULY be who we are. Gratefully, we are seeing magnificent acts of authenticity expressed in heroic acts of kindness, compassion, and generosity. And I know that there are still many untold stories that will continue to flood in…
I totally agree with you Lore about our need to be truly who we are and authentically express our love and compassion generously with others. Indeed it is a privilege to become who we truly are and allow ourselves to be known by ourselves and then share that with others. Thank you so much for sharing your comment and wisdom Lore!
Lama Surya Das teachers that when you smile for no reason, it has a positive affect on every bone in your body. Imagine the impact when we aim that smile at others!
I love thinking about the power of a smile! I have watched a smile create a safety, welcome, trust, inclusion, importance and love. It is so simple but so powerful and a gift we give ourself and others. I love to smile in meditation as well and enjoy the calm and harmony it inspires. Thank you so much for your comment Barb!
Love this, I am me. So sweet, so simple, so pure. Thanks for sharing this delightful exchange. Xoxo
Perhaps that will be my new affirmation Natasha – I am me! Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
I have grown to appreciate the process of coupling an accurate self-appraisal (which is sometimes painful) with a self-nurturing follow-up. Sometimes it takes courage to look under the rocks and conscious self-nurturing can be a wonderful reward. Thanks.
Isn’t it odd to think about how difficult it is sometimes to just be? This is a great message for all of us!
Having the courage to be ourselves is a powerful practice with amazing benefits but no doubt challenging Sheila. Thank you so much for your comment!
TY Kelley – and TY C G Jung 🙂
You are so welcome Susan! Thank you for your comment!
We all need this reminder from time to time Kelly. This is such an important lesson, one that I have embraced over time. Now I am unabashedly me 🙂 Happily so 🙂
xoxo, Z~
I love that you are unabashedly you Zeenat and happily so! Knowing ourselves well enough to show up authentically is so important and a wonderful benefit of self-nurturing. I am very grateful for your comment!