Choose Authenticity
You can download and print an illustrated version of this quote at Brenebrown.com.
One of my favorite teachers on the subject of authenticity is Dr Brené Brown. I have her words about authenticity posted on my refrigerator door, as a constant reminder to keep choosing an authentic life everyday.
As a Research Professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, Brené Brown has spent the past decade studying the behavioral characteristics of vulnerability, worthiness, courage, and shame. Her thought-provoking research has been featured in various publications and her insightful speeches are among the most watched on TED.com. She has authored multiple books, including Gifts of Imperfection.
In this excerpt from the book, she shares wonderful insights on what it means to live an authentic life:
"Authenticity is a daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are. Choosing authenticity means:
Cultivating the courage to be imperfect, to set boundaries, and to allow ourselves to be vulnerable
Exercising the compassion that comes from knowing that we are all made of strength and struggle, and
Nurturing the connection and sense of belonging that can only happen when we believe that we are enough Authenticity demands wholehearted living and loving – even when it’s hard, even when we’re wrestling with the shame and fear of not being good enough, and especially when the joy is so intense that we’re afraid to let ourselves feel it. Mindfully practicing authenticity during our most soul-searching struggles is how we invite grace, joy, and gratitude into our lives."
