This is “Your Impact: The Podcast” Episode 6: What does authenticity look like?”, and I’m April.

Today I’m diving into Brene Brown's book “The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone: Braving The Wilderness”. Brene Brown is a New York Times Bestselling Author and vulnerability researcher, who has spent decades studying human behaviour and emotions.

Brene Brown defines a person living authentically as someone that is deeply rooted in who they are, but allows themselves to expand and grow. They allow themselves to show up in their truth - even if it’s different from what they’ve been raised to know. What tends to rot the roots are those moments when you abandon your core values, you make yourself small, or run away from vulnerability. You need to give yourself permission to fight for what you need, and to know that asking for what you need doesn’t mean someone else will be denied it. Only concern yourself with how you act, speak, and show courage.

I’ve had many moments of inauthenticity.

Like when I made myself seem small and aloof in a room where I felt intimidated, or undeserving of being there. By the end of the day I felt empty - like I didn’t get to experience the day fully, and thought to myself - “What if I had just been brave? What would that have been like?”.

Or, like when I was starting a new job, that paid decent - or poorly - and I feared losing it, so I worked hard to make myself seem irreplaceable. Only to burn out eventually, and be replaced. Instead of taking care of myself, or listening to my body when I needed rest, I pushed until I couldn’t anymore. I neglected what I needed, because of fear.

Or like when I knew I was wrong but I was too embarrassed to own up to it, to admit it, to be vulnerable, so I kept fighting til we grew tired or I chose to dismiss it. Or when I knew I was right, but accepted taking blame. And because I denied myself of speaking my truth - instead of resolving the problem right when it started, I carried that baggage with me for hours, days, weeks.. Often ruminating about how it may have turned out if I had just said all that I really wanted to say.

When we recognize these moments of in-authenticity, we get another chance at making sure we never betray ourselves again.

To live authentically is to be brave, to trust yourself in what you’ve got to offer, and to be truthful.

Every choice you make in your day, either nourishes or poisons your roots. Set your intentions, then follow through. To be authentic is to know who you are - your core values - to know this, you need to make decisions that feel honest to you. And when everyone is being authentic, we build a community of mutual love, truth, and respect - our shared humanity.

You just listened to: Episode 6: What does authenticity look like?”. I’ll be back with new episodes every Sunday so I’ll see you there with more thoughts on how to live better and find your impact. Be well.