I chose Authenticity

I am always in awe of how the universe works. With my entire heart and being I believe that everything happens for a reason..... and with that situations unfold at precisely the right time. When one door opens another closes. I have learned that you have to be aware...paying attention to see the subtle and sometimes not so subtle clues that are being presented to you. I am currently "seeing someone" to do some much needed work on myself. Each weekly visit is amazing and I leave there with this mixed feeling of joy and excitement and yet also sadness. Sadness because I feel like I have wasted so much time ~ spent so much time not feeling ~ not being truly present in each and every moment. So much time with walls up to protect me...yet in the end they are holding me back. I try to not stay in that space for too long as in the end I know I am on the path I need to be on and exactly where I need to be.

I left yesterdays appointment and I had all these feelings......feelings I have such a hard time communicating not only verbally but written. Today I was blog surfing and I stumbled across this website that had a pledge/promise/prayer/ manifesto about Authenticity. I immediately was filled with emotion...the kind of emotion that starts in your stomach and rises all the way up ..coming out through your eyes. This manifesto...this is how I was feeling last night. These are the words I wanted to say. Ahh.... I stopped and sat in amazement of just how the universe works. How things are presented to you just when you need them the most. Below I have rewritten the manifesto to share with you. I am going to use it as a daily affirmation while I am working on being more open.....and not letting what others think get in the way. I hope you enjoy!

Authenticity is a daily practice. Choosing authenticity means cultivating the COURAGE to be emotionally honest, to set boundaries, and to allow ourselves to be vulnerable; exercising COMPASSION that comes from knowing that we are all made of strength and struggle and connected to each other through a loving and resilient human spirit; nurturing the CONNECTION and sense of belonging that can only happen when we let go of what we are suppose to be and embrace who we are.

Authenticity demands WHOLEHEARTED living and loving ~ even when it's hard, even when we are 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.
~Brene Brown Ph.D