Be Your Authentic Self

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?