“If you are your authentic self, you have no competition.”
Own your truths—all of them. Be honest. Be genuine. Be straightforward Be refreshing! We gravitate towards such people, don’t we? Allow your natural personality to shine through without pretending to be someone you’re not, or you may be stuck with that label forever. Walking in alignment with your integrity will help keep you on the right track.
There is a reason that the words natural, wholesome, and organic resonate throughout our culture today. Aim to be natural and truly who you are one-hundred percent of the time.
We’ve all met people who are beautiful on the outside, however, when they open their mouths to speak, they have nothing of substance to contribute. And other times we meet folks who appear rather plain, yet when they speak from a heart of service, love, compassion, and wisdom, they instantly become respected favorites.
Authenticity is the litmus test for the honesty, transparency, and trust which are necessary for healthy relationships. You have met phonies—fake people who appear plastic and put on airs trying to impress other people. The person they present to the world is not the person who resides inside.
My friend Tina Hallis, Ph.D. (ThePositiveEdge.org) is a professional speaker who specializes in positivity in the workplace. One day after presenting her “Positive Psychology” workshop, an audience participant approached and asked her, “What about authenticity? Sometimes I don’t feel like being positive. What if I feel authentically mad, bad, or negative? Is that okay?”
Tina responded, “Of course it is okay! You need to honor where you are and it is not always about being happy. Your negative feelings are there for a reason, too.”
Authenticity respects the ebb and flow between positive and negative. The people who really know you will understand that you are not always going to be in a happy place and an occasional bad mood is acceptable. By authentically sharing when things aren’t right you allow the people you care about to offer the support you may need.
This is an excerpt from Positive Impact & Change Expert Susan Young’s new book The Art of First Impressions for Positive Impact . . . 8 Ways to Shine Bright to Transform Relationship Results. To learn more, please visit https://susancyoung.com/store/art-of-first-impressions-for-positive-impact/.
