🌿 The Courage to Be You: Facing Adversity in Authentic Living
✨ Why Is Authenticity So Hard?
In last week's post, we explored why some people resist authenticity, it challenges their carefully built rules and structures that make the world feel predictable.
But when people turn up their noses at you for daring to be yourself, it can wear you down.
You might start to wonder:
❓ Is it really worth it?
❓ Is living authentically always going to feel like a battle?
❓ Wouldn’t it be easier to just fit in and stop rocking the boat?
That’s the question I want you to sit with as we dive into today’s discussion.
💡 A Lesson in Authenticity: My Story
I always tell my students, "I tend to be my own best example," and today is no different.
👩🎓 High school. Small town. 32 classmates.
We had all known each other since kindergarten, and the social structures were set early. Your reputation was fixed, no reinvention allowed.
For years, I tried to fit in.
✔️ I wore the trendy clothes.
✔️ I listened to the popular music.
✔️ I laughed at the right jokes.
But no matter what I did, I was never truly accepted.
Then, during my senior year, something clicked.
🚀 I was leaving soon.
🚀 The people I had tried so hard to impress wouldn’t define my future.
🚀 I was free.
So, I took a deep breath and did something radical:
✨ I wore what I actually liked.
✨ I cut my hair how I wanted.
✨ I got a tattoo (don’t worry, I was 18).
And the most surprising thing happened…
The same people who had ignored me for years started talking to me!
I was invited to parties.
I made new connections.
❗ But the world around me hadn’t changed.
❗ I had.
When I finally stepped forward as my authentic self, I gained something I had been chasing all along, genuine connection.
💭 Sometimes, the walls we feel around us are the ones we’ve built ourselves.
🔥 Courage Is the First Step to Freedom
Many assume authenticity leads to rejection, but the energy you put into the world is what people respond to.
So how do we build that courage?
Not with a huge leap. Instead, with small, intentional acts of bravery, because courage is a practice, not a personality trait.
✍️ Reflection Exercise: Small Acts of Courage
Try this step-by-step exercise to begin stepping into your authentic self in a way that feels safe and powerful. You can stack this with last week’s exercise:
🔹 Step 1: Start Small
Think of one small way you can express yourself authentically today.
💡 Maybe it’s…
✅ Wearing an outfit that makes you feel good.
✅ Speaking up in a conversation.
✅ Sharing an opinion you usually keep quiet.
🔹 Step 2: Notice How It Feels
📝 Journal about your experience.
Did it bring relief? Excitement? Nervousness?
What emotions came up?
🔹 Step 3: Observe Reactions (Without Judgment)
👀 How did people respond?
Were your fears accurate, or were they based on assumptions?
🔹 Step 4: Challenge Your Beliefs
Ask yourself:
🤔 Was my fear of rejection real, or was it a story I told myself?
🔹 Step 5: Level Up
Once you feel comfortable, take a bigger step:
🔥 Set a boundary.
🔥 Pursue a passion unapologetically.
🔥 Openly share your beliefs.
💪 Each small step builds momentum.
And suddenly, the mask you once wore feels unnecessary—because you are finally living as you.
🏆 Final Thoughts: The Power of Courage
Living authentically in a world that tries to box you in is no easy feat.
But as Thucydides once said:
“The secret to happiness is freedom… And the secret to freedom is courage.”
So today, I challenge you:
✨ Take one small step toward authenticity.
✨ See how it feels.
✨ Come back and share, what did you discover?
🖤 Did this resonate with you?
📢 Share this post to inspire others to take their first courageous step.
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