“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” — Brené Brown

In this episode of The Wholehearted Series, we explore the foundational guidepost of living a brave, connected life: Cultivating Authenticity by letting go of what people think.

Authenticity isn’t a personality trait—it’s a daily, courageous practice. It requires self-awareness, self-acceptance, and the willingness to disappoint others rather than abandon ourselves.

We’ll dive into:

• What happens when we lack self-awareness and self-knowledge
• How our need for belonging can lead to self-abandonment
• Toxic guilt, false responsibility, and people-pleasing
• Why spiritual formation starts with knowing and accepting yourself
• How self-acceptance sets you free from performance and perfectionism
• The cultural and church dynamics that can cause us to mask our true selves
• My personal stories of coming back to Australia, navigating cultural differences, and relearning what it means to belong without betraying myself

This episode weaves in wisdom from saints, mystics, therapists, and theologians—from St. Teresa of Ávila to Thomas Merton and Pete Scazzero—alongside practical insights on how guilt, fear, and inherited expectations shape our identity.

We ask deep questions like:

• Who did I learn I had to be in order to be loved?
• Where am I still waiting for permission to be who I already am?
• How do I come back to myself after years of self-abandonment?

And we land in this truth: Your true self is the most generous, humble, and powerful version of you. When you live from that place, you stop performing and start becoming.

This episode is an invitation to take up your space, tell the truth, and be who God always dreamed you to be.

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