17/06/2025
We hear it all the time: “Just be your authentic self.”
But being authentic might take more courage than we think.
Being our authentic selves often means unlearning who we became when we were trying to be what others needed us to be.
It’s a deep, often tender return to who we were before we started hiding parts of ourselves to stay connected, to be loved.
As humans, and especially as children, we’re wired for connection.
It’s our birthright to express our truth and our feelings freely.
But when being full ourselves, with our full expression threatens our bond with caregivers, many of us unconsciously choose attachment over authenticity. We quiet certain parts of ourselves to stay safe, accepted, and loved.
So, stepping back into our full, authentic selves?
It takes time.
It needs care, compassion, and a sense of safety.
It’s not a performance.
It’s a profound act of healing. A reclamation of the self we once had to abandon.
There are so many ways to lean into this process.
Somatic practices. Inner child work. Breathwork. Journaling.
Learning to set boundaries. Learning to use our voice.
It’s a journey…
And if there is a final destination, maybe it’s this: learning to meet ourselves exactly where we are, again and again.
