In the December newsletter I suggested deepening into the theme of authenticity in the new year. It turned out that authenticity is indeed one of those key themes of 2023. The year 2023 has been rightly named the year of a turning point, the year of evolutionary change, the year of grand new beginnings, the year of hope, and more. I’d like to call 2023, your year of aligning with yourself.
Align with your Authentic Self
Authenticity will be a key theme as we enter 2023. It’s essentially part of our growth and fulfilment of our greatest potential. Not always easy nor encouraged by society and all too often we put on a mask instead in an effort to protect ourselves from judgement, hide our feelings and true thoughts in fear of disapproval. Yet, this year you will want to honour this theme for the sake of your own happiness, freedom and blossoming.
What is Authenticity?
Authenticity is awareness of our inner experience. It’s being your true self and living congruently with your values, beliefs, uniqueness, path and purpose. Authenticity is expressing our true selves freely. It’s essential for your happiness and maturity, it’s liberating and empowering as it enables you to take a path in life consistent with who you truly are. Authenticity is important if you want to live a balanced and healthy life. Authenticity means genuineness and a presence of full awareness in the present moment – an aliveness. Authenticity takes courage as it involves being open to our vulnerabilities, and overcoming our fears. We are all unique and authenticity is expressing your own uniqueness whilst honouring the uniqueness of others. This approach to diversity will take us into the new era with love, balance, harmony and peace.
Societal Roles and Expectations
As we grow up, we adopt introjected attitudes, values and beliefs from parents, teachers, peers and the like, about how and who we should be, creating societal expectations that we feel compelled to live up to for approval. We then cultivate the masked self, losing touch with the real self. We experience anxiety when we conform to other people’s expectations rather than accepting ourselves the way we are. Our growth is hampered, and emotional problems ensue when pleasing others and receiving rewards become more important than listening to our inner voice and creating our own future. The lack of congruence between the ‘ideal self’ and the ‘real self’ is the main source of mental health issues.
Authenticity is thus congruence (genuineness); being your real self. Much of our process of self-discovery in life is therefore an undoing of these introjections from others, in order to uncover and free the real self. What people tend to see of us is the masking of the real self, the outward facade, the face we put on. Behind this mask is the authentic real self; the self that you are and feel you can be with those trusted people who really know and accept you. Our path of growth and development in life is to rediscover and be the real, authentic self. Our relationships and interactions with others will then be more real, authentic and rewarding too. Perhaps this year, in your social interaction with people, consider how you can be more authentic. Give yourself permission to just be yourself. Becoming more of your true authentic self is a great, and perhaps ongoing, spiritual practice.
The Ego Self
The duality of being human is that we have two selves. The ego self is the outward facade, the personality, the mask we put on, the character that we play. The 3-dimensional narrow focus of the ego self on the struggles and survival of our everyday existence, creates fears, anger, stress, and doubts. The ego concerns itself with its own importance, compares itself with others, and judges how it shapes up as it copes with the hamster wheel of life. The ego can put up a show that’s not real. It often creates struggles, difficulties and hardship. It’s certainly part of you, yet a small and limited part of you. You are much more than that. Separated from it, by the thinnest of a veil, is your greater dimensional self, your Higher Self.
The Higher Self
We can only access this greater self by first creating calm, relaxation and expanded awareness. Infinite and unlimited, this is the seat of your greater potential, your untapped resources and your giftedness. It’s your source of your intuition, inner-guidance, inspiration, wisdom and expanded awareness. Whatever happens in your life, the higher perspective of your higher self gives meaning and purpose to your experiences. The qualities of your higher self is unconditional love, empathy, compassion, acceptance, joy and peace. Your higher self is who you truly are. Our path of evolution is ego self to higher self. We are thus evolving to become more of our true authentic selves.
Be Your Authentic Self
It’s from authenticity that joy can pour forth spontaneously. This year give yourself the permission to be your authentic self, embrace your unique life and the joy of being you.
Resources for you
Time Line Therapy™
Sometimes we need a little assistance to heal and release emotions of the past. In my experience Time Line Therapy™ is unique in its approach to emotional healing and resolves issues remarkably fast without having to go into unwanted details. Time Line Therapy™ is equally effective in overcoming limiting beliefs and building empowering beliefs and confidence. For more information click on this link: Time Line Therapy™.
Natural Wellness Blog
Our Wellness Blog, is inspired by Nature on Prescription and Food on Prescription, This month we explore the health benefits of getting out in nature, and of course, it’s Veganuary! Access it here now for practical inspiration on pro-active health.
Cosmic Overview and Current Energies
We’re birthing a new era. What does 2023 hold for you? Get a feel for the current climate energetically so you can flow with life, take a higher perspective and see things clearly … Read more for the bigger picture.
Further Reading
Facilitate your own path of growth and development in life: Lifting the Veils of Illusion, 7 Steps to Spiritual Enlightenment,
Deepen into Self-mastery with: The Foundations of Mastery, 12 Steps to a Fulfilled Life.
These meditations are transformational in nature as they are designed to release the old and bring in the new. These well-utilised self-help tools, are simple and powerful and can be accessed here.
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