Hey, Overcomer! Do you know what your top values are? For me, honesty and authenticity are definitely in my top five. I consider these two concepts to be one in the same. In my opinion, striving to live as authentically as possible, as true to yourself as possible, is a matter of honesty. Much of this comes naturally to me. I find it very hard to lie. I’m not saying I’ve never told a lie before, but it’s just not something that is generally very tempting for me to do, and it never has been. Living truthfully is important to me. Speaking my truth, telling my story, and sharing my opinion are important. Being unapologetically myself is important. I don’t like pretending to go along with something just to make others feel more comfortable, because that would feel inauthentic or dishonest to me. I’d rather speak my mind, gently when needed… and apologize later if I have to. 

All that said, you’ll understand why it has been a surprise to me during my healing journey to discover that I have indeed been through phases where I wasn’t living as authentically as I thought I was. And even just recently, I had a big ‘aha’ moment around this topic. 

You see, something I’ve started to contemplate is the way in which we choose to live authentically, or share our truth with others. As I just said, I’d rather speak my mind at all costs, even if it means apologizing later in instances where it comes across as harsh. But, I think I’m starting to discover a better way….an even truer way… to be authentically me.

The difference is that one way of being authentically “Me” screams: “This is who I am! Get used to it!”. And the other, newer way that I’ve gradually been shifting into for a while has more of a sense of quiet confidence and ease. 

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