05/03/2020
Written by my mentor at YogaWest.
You may have noticed that trying to be true to yourself can also be very stressful, in a fast-paced world with non-stop messages about how we are “supposed” to be. One thing you can do to feel less stressed is to hold tight to your authenticity. Don’t try to be something that you are not, and certainly don’t try to please everyone by wearing a bunch of different hats so that you can feel like you are all things to all people. It may sound simple but is not always easy.
But what really is your true self, and how do you stay true to it??
Your true self is who you really are when you let go of all the stories, labels and judgements that you put on yourself. It is who you are without the mask of insecurity and fear, and without the burden of other people’s stuff that you have taken on.
Rediscover your inner child.
Ever noticed the freedom of small children playing, and how little they care what other people think of them? Children are their true natures. Be willing to become freer. Play, laugh, enjoy the moment. Run in the sprinkler. Remind yourself when you feel like you are being judged that that is how you were taught to be, and is not actually the real you. The real you is awesome!
Be more aware of how you think.
The amount of negative thoughts we have each day is mind-boggling. And when negative thoughts play over and over again, they become our normal, and our actual reality can begin to shift to match our thoughts. Sit quietly for 5 to 10 minutes each day and observe the quality of your thoughts. When you can learn to stop the pattens of negative thinking, your true nature has more room to shine. You are so much better than what you think about yourself. You are amazing, and beautiful, and strong!
Follow your intuition.
So often, we ignore our intuition and doing what is right for ourselves, because we feel so obligated to others. We often consider that other people’s happiness is more important than our own. But you can learn (or re-learn) to follow those little nudges, the little voice over your shoulder, so to speak, to begin to break out of the comfort zone. Following your own intuition doesn’t mean that that won’t encounter struggles, but it does mean that you will have comfort in knowing that you are headed in the right direction.
When we try to think and act in alignment with our true nature, then it is much easier to be yourself.
What tricks do you have to stay in alignment with your true nature?
