Tuesday, November 12, 2013

How To Reclaim Your Authenticity - Part 1




By  Priscilla A. Wainwright,  Ph.D., CPC


Authenticity is the foundation for self esteempositive assertiveness, empowerment, and all that good stuff.  After all, how can you be fully empowered – and truly happy – if you don’t know who you really are and/or are not living and speaking your truth?

If things seem out of whack in your life, your relationships, or your sense of meaning, part of the problem may be that you’re out of touch with part of your authentic  self.

Maybe it’s time for an Authenticity Check-Up.

In medicine, if you have certain undefinable symptoms going on, your doctor may prescribe an imagery method called a Full Body Scan.  You are imaged head to toe.

Well, if you’re feeling disempowered, invisible, burned out from over-serving, a lack of meaning or fulfillment, and/or stuck  in certain habits or relationship issues, an  Authenticity Scan may be in order.  You may have lost touch with certain parts of your True Authentic Self.

Below is a list of things to examine.  Don’t dash through this. Take time to reflect. Also, writing down or journaling  your ideas and thoughts will be very helpful. You will want to refer to this information again and again as time goes on.

Here goes:

1.     What are your key Joys in life?
         What is it about these things that brings you the good feelings?
 
2.     What are your key Frustrations?
                What is it about those things that upsets you?
                           (Your answers may reflect a need to control or certain demands
                                 that you are placing on your world, which in the big picture may
                                 or may not be reasonable.)

3.     What are your “Likes” and “Dislikes”, if different from the above?
          For what reasons do you like or dislike these things?
    
4.     List your Core Values.
          What do you really believe in?  Why?

5.     List your Interests.
           What is it about them that fulfills you?

6.     List your Natural Talents.

    7.   List your Skills and Strengths.
                       Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you enjoy it.
                       Star those Skills. Strengths and Talents which provide you satisfaction
                       and joy.

8.     What really counts for you in life?
           Answer this question in any way that makes sense for you.

9.     Your Personality.  What kind of person are you?
           Also, how would others describe you?

10. What are your key Virtues,  Vices?
           Why?
   
11. What were you naturally like as a young child?
           Were there good qualities or actions that since have become diminished    
                       or lost?    If so, list them.

12. What do you want out of life?
           List any deeper yearnings or dreams that are not yet, or only partially,
                       fulfilled.  Why have they not yet been birthed into reality?

13. What are you passionate about?

    14. Ideally, how do you want to show up in life?  How do you want to be seen by
                       others?
                                   (If this is different than the way you act now, what is different?
                                    How?  Why?)

15. How well do love/accept yourself as you are right now?
           If your self love falls short, or you dislike yourself,  what do you feel you
           need to change to love yourself more?  This question is not an attempt to
           define perfection.  You can still love and honor yourself and still have
           “flaws”.

Well, there you have a Full Body Authenticity Scan.  This inventory holds up the mirror.  There’s a lot of inner work here to answer these questions if you are taking this inventory seriously.  Your answers will reveal much about your natural self, and your inner truth.  You don’t need to do this all in one sitting,  but if you do, allow plenty of time.  You may also wish to do this with a trusted friend.

What to do with all this information?  We’ll deal with that in the next blog.
 
_____________________________       

BTW, a really neat press release was done on me a couple days ago. Here’s the link:
http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release-service/367560

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