Discovering the power of your authentic self
Written by Alex Poeter
Who are you as your authentic self?
How could you tell whether or not you’re showing up authentically?
Here is why I think exploring these questions is so important. Being clear about who we are as our authentic self and learning to show up from a place of truth allows us to tap into our true power as individuals, professionals, and leaders. I keep seeing this with people I work with, and also with myself: One of the biggest keys to success is to learn how to be true to ourselves and to embody this through our actions.
Being authentic brings out the best in us because instead of showing up from a place of fear, limitation, and scarcity, we step out of our “conditioned and socialized self”. As a result, there is nothing we have to prove, hide, or pretend – we can be honest and vulnerable instead. And there is a lot of power in that. It’s disarming and tends to get others to lower their defenses because they don’t have to feel threatened.
Showing up authentically also gives others permission to do the same, which can create an opportunity for deep interconnectedness and shared truth. It humanizes us.
While showing up authentically isn’t always easy because we might fear being judged if we say something that feels true for us but that others might not agree with. Or we might fear being reprimanded because we’re speaking our truth to a superior at our workplace. However, I believe there are always ways to lean into our authentic self if we’re aiming to serve the greater good or a higher cause, and not just ourselves. True authenticity doesn’t stem from ego or resistance – it comes from a deeper place of wisdom, love, and truth. This allows us to show up in a way that doesn’t trigger fear, resistance, or defensiveness in others.
Conversely, I’ve found that if we don’t keep exploring who we are as our authentic self, we stay stuck in conditioned behavioral patterns that are driven by the need to please others, do what others and society expects of us, or stay in our comfort zone. While those behaviors tend to give us a sense of perceived safety, they erode our confidence and dampen our spirit.
Here are some reflection questions than can help you to explore your authentic self:
Who are you as your authentic self?
Where in your life are you not showing up authentically, and hiding who you truly are?
What are you risking by not showing up more authentically?
What do you think is possible for you if you showed up more authentically?
What are specific steps you can take to show up more authentically?
When we show up more authentically and live from our truth, we start to unlock powers and abilities that weren’t available to us before. By showing up more authentically, our ability to create a positive impact in all areas of our lives increases exponentially. Are you ready to take your life to the next level?