Environment is everything! Go where you feel like YOU.
Living a life of boldness and authenticity is a courageous choice. It means embracing the depths of who we truly are, unapologetically and fearlessly. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones, to defy societal norms and expectations, and to chart our own paths with unwavering confidence.
Being bold and authentic means speaking our truth, even when it's unpopular, and standing up for what we believe in, even in the face of adversity. It means accepting our flaws and imperfections, and finding the strength to showcase our genuine selves to the world. It's about taking risks, pursuing our passions, and being unafraid to fail. When we live our lives with boldness and authenticity, we inspire others to do the same, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and liberation.
It can feel like a journey finding a place that feels safe enough for you to feel comfortable being yourself. But the real work is in being able to still show up authentically even when were unsure it’ll be received.
When I think about all the times I settled in order to feel relatable, when deep down I knew I wanted more, I wanted better for me. My fear was people not understanding my idea of better.
While I spent years, yearning for the environment that felt safe enough to express myself freely; I decided I would create it and share it with the world.
The first step to creating this life, was first confronting my low self-worth and doing something about it.
Low self-worth can manifest in various behaviors, often leading individuals to undermine their own well-being. Individuals with low self-worth may constantly seek validation from others, relying on external sources to feel valued and accepted.
In the beginning it felt hard setting personal boundaries, stop putting others' needs before my own, and sacrificing my own happiness for fear of disappointing people. I just knew I was tired of being a people-pleaser, and I was sick of attracting people who would intentionally demenish my sense of self.
Self-criticism, negative self-talk, all became bad habits and one day I just had enough.
I stopped complaining about being misunderstood and just started to understand myself and how I was evolving as a person. I started to question all the automatic beliefs about my life and my world.
I began unmasking and accepting my true authentic self.
The biggest piece to my journey was shifting my mindset to align with my authentic nature. I started to accept responsibility for how I contributed to my own struggles. I started forgiving myself by showing compassion and self-love in moments of relapse in behaviors or thinking.
Therapy has been a major component to my mental health and overall sense of self. It’s a been a healing space to speak my truth, and think about just me.
Being in spaces like that, where you can feel like you, is so good for the nervous system. It feels like a space of rest.
So be courageous. Free fall into your full authentic self and step into every room as that authentic expression of You.
xo,
jl