Holistic Articles
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Be Your Authentic Self
- Julie Christensen
In the cult film, Pale Rider, Clint Eastwood plays a mysterious preacher with a dark past who
rides into a small mining town to save the day. One of my favourite lines in the movie is when
his love interest looks into his eyes and asks, "Who are you? Who are you, really?" In
classic "Clint" fashion, the preacher replies through pinched lips, "Well, it really doesn't
matter now, does it?"
Does who you are matter? You bet your sweet "patooty" it does! And I'm not just talking about
your name or your reputation in the community. I'm talking about who you are at your core.
Who are you really? What are your dreams, your hopes, your values, and your passions? How do
you like to be treated? What gets you up in the morning? What is your definition of honour?
All of these things and more define your authentic self.
Knowing and being true to our authentic self has infinite and immeasurable value. When you live
in ways that are not true to your authentic self, you will experience mental and emotional upset
and stress, which leads to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease,
ulcers, and a host of other health problems.
Wondering how to find your authentic self? Start by answering the questions above. If you're not
sure what you are passionate about or what your dreams or values are, try this: find a quiet
place to think, or sit quietly with your journal and consider the various aspects of your
life. Listen to your body as your heart rate increases or slows, as your stress levels rise and
fall depending on what you are thinking about. When you think about things that resonate with
your authentic self, you will feel a certain measure of joy or peace, or contentment. When you
think of areas of your life that conflict with your authentic self, you will feel your body
become more tense and stressed.
Once you've figured out what your authentic self is - how do you find a way to live in harmony
with it? Seek out some support through a coach or a mentor who can help you discover ways to
be true to your authentic self. If you are working in a job that requires you to be less than
honest, or you are doing something that drains your passion, a career transition coach can help
you define your values and begin the journey towards a more fulfilling occupation. If your
true self requires that you spend more quality time with family, but the demands of your life
currently prevent that, a coach can help you to simplify your life and create opportunities to
make those quality moments happen. Make a commitment to be the person you know you were meant
to be! Not only will you be thankful for the benefits that you garner, but the positive outcomes
will spill over into every area of your life. So, who are you? Who are you, really?
This article was previously published in The Business Link Niagara. Julie
Christiansen is an author and coach specializing in relationships, communication, anger,
and stress management. Visit her website at http://www.angersolution.com.
To receive a copy of Julie's new E-book, Crazy Busy, email her at
info@angersolution.com.
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