I used to think authenticity meant making sure everyone knew who I really was.

Turns out, that’s just performance with good branding.

For years, I swung between two versions of myself:

* The one who needed everyone to see how “real” I was.

* The one who disappeared into whatever the room wanted.

Both were exhausting. Both were lies.

Here’s the thing nobody tells you:

Authenticity isn’t about being seen. It’s about being steady.

In This Episode:

* Why constant rebellion and total approval are both traps

* The one question that reveals whether you’re aligned or performing

* How to choose congruence over theatrics in every room you walk into

* Why alignment will outlast approval every single time

You’ll learn how to stop ping-ponging between extremes and start living from the center, where your voice doesn’t change with the audience, and your choices don’t require permission slips.

✦ Reflection Prompts:

* Where am I still rebelling just to be different, or agreeing just to be accepted?

* What decisions have I made lately because they looked good on paper but didn’t feel true?

* How would my choices shift if no one ever knew I made them?

* What’s one area where I can replace “proving” with “living”?

✦ Action Steps:

* Ask the Alignment QuestionBefore acting, ask: “If no one ever knew I did this, would I still do it?”

* Do One Thing Just Because It’s TrueNo posting, no explaining, no looking for agreement; just act from your center.

* Anchor the TruthSay aloud: “I am not here to prove who I am. I am here to live who I am.” Repeat until it feels like muscle memory.

Book your No-Cost Identity Clarity CallMeet the version of you who’s not waiting for permission anymore.

✦ On the Next Episode:

The Price of Inaction: Why You Should Be the Boss of Your Life

Waiting feels safe, but it’s the most expensive habit you’ll ever keep.We’ll break down how delay robs more than failure ever could, and how to start acting from ownership instead of fear.

✦ Engage With Me Online:

* Instagram: @coachshawnmichael

* TikTok: @coachshawnmichael

* YouTube: @coachshawnmichael

* LinkedIn: @coachinguatemala

✦ References & Influences:

* Brené Brown – The Gifts of ImperfectionOn how worthiness must come from within, not from performance or approval.

* Martha Beck – The Way of IntegrityOn living in alignment with your truest self, even in a world full of expectations.

* Steve Andreas – Transforming Your SelfOn identity alignment as the root of sustainable change.

* Steve Hardison – The Ultimate CoachOn BEing as the foundation for authentic leadership.

* Gay Hendricks – The Big LeapOn upper limits and why external success can’t replace internal alignment.

* Michael Gervais – Finding Mastery PodcastOn how elite performers hold steady in their identity across environments.

Get full access to True North: Your guide to an intentional life at trunorth.substack.com/subscribe