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To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.
e.e. cummings
Living an authentic life is a goal of mine. I aspire to approach everything I do from a very real place.
Deep down, The Real You is aching to bust out—to live, to be nurtured and heard, to express itself in some way. But many who step out and begin to follow their hearts are faced with lack of acceptance—because it’s not considered a normal behavior. Pressure from our peers and society in general can keep us hemmed in and prevent us from living the authentic life we should be living.
When it comes to day-to-day self care, it can be difficult to make choices that are good for us—for our bodies, for our minds, and for our authentic selves.
The media bombards us with ads, ideas and information—not all of which is truthful or helpful. We are encouraged to consume mass quantities of fake foods, to slather our bodies with fake products, to medicate symptoms instead of looking at the cause…the list goes on and on!
You know what? It’s time to get real.
Getting real and living more authentically in every way may be just the strategy you need in order to achieve a more fulfilling, healthy, balanced, joy-filled life. Are you in?
If so here are 5 Tips to Help You Get Real & Get a Life!
Rake in the Real Food. Eating a “clean” diet, one that features lots of fresh organic fruits, vegetables, whole grains, is a great start to getting real with your food. Read labels. Don’t buy products that read like an excerpt from a chemistry book. The simpler, the better. Buy organic meats, poultry and dairy whenever possible. If you dine out frequently, order foods that are grilled, steamed or roasted. Eat plenty of salad and veggies (without an excess of fat-laden sauces and dressings). Toss out those processed foods. Yeah, seriously throw them out, give them away. Begin to get real from the inside out!
Get Real in Your Relationships. Are you real and honest with the people you interact with on a regular basis? Are you expressing yourself in order to get what you desire out of the relationship? It’s time to speak up an make your desires known. You can present your thoughts with a nice dose of empathy; communicating from your heart along with a soft soft approach and avoid being abrasive. Does it bother you that someone is always so negative? Point it out. Do you feel ignored by someone? Let that person know. Honesty is essential fuel for creating healthy, nurturing relationships.
Power Up the Pillow Talk. I’m amazed at how many men and women are unsatisfied with their romantic lives—and still don’t speak up to their partners about it. Getting real about what you desire is ultra important. Need to spice things up? Tell your partner. The point is, if you are not happy in the romantic arena, you’ll feel unfulfilled elsewhere in your life. Being unfulfilled is a result of not speaking up and taking care of your own needs.
Don’t Just Dream it–Be it. “Who” is hidden inside of you, waiting to be released? An artist? A dancer? A business owner? A world traveler? A parent? An author? A speaker? Tap into your deepest desire and start to take steps toward making your dream a reality. Even if you don’t believe in the dream just yet, begin anyway. Many successful, happy people have followed this strategy. Muhammad Ali once said, “I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.” I had the pleasure of meeting this great man on a plane trip. I could feel his “greatness” as I sat beside him for a few moments as he signed an autograph for me and chatted briefly. He dreamed it and then did it!
Believe You Deserve to Be Happy. Getting comfortable with the idea that you deserve to be happy, (what a concept!)—and should do whatever you can to achieve happiness—is a major step. Tell yourself the following every day: “I believe I deserve nothing but the very best in every aspect of my life.”
This is a great start. Step up your mental game. Become fearless, more courageous, unafraid of stepping out and living the life of your dreams, no matter what others may think. Go for it! Your life is waiting for you!
