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Suppose you were able to extend your life by ten years plus, ten more years to experience any
way you wish – would you want those extra years? I would hazard a guess that you would grab
the opportunity with both hands!

It takes so much energy to suppress your authentic self, to be what you are not, and yet so little
energy to be who you really are. If your answer about the ten years was “Yes”, then let it be yes
now.

Once you are committed to reconnecting and reclaiming your authentic self you will feel a
surge of explosive energy that will uplift you. You will even see tiresome daily chores in a new
light.

Now let’s talk about you.

Don’t you think it’s time you started enjoying the authentic life you deserve and all that goes
with it? I suspect that you take care of everyone and everything else in your life first and almost
always, you are last in line to get your needs met, if at all. The fact that you’re reading these
words tells me you feel the need for change. You are better than the life you are living, you are
capable of more than you have allowed yourself to experience up to now.

To achieve this, you have to get back in touch with the real you with some self-analysis and
diagnosis. Asking yourself some searching questions and answering them with absolute honesty
can put you back on the right road to true authenticity and true happiness.

Don’t expect everyone in your life to be as keen as you are to discover and live your authentic
self. Many people will not want 'the real you' to emerge, because they were comfortable with
your limitations and weaknesses, your old roles and denials, which fitted very nicely with theirs.

The more authentic you become the greater resistance you might face. All too often, this is
how people react when we find the inner courage to face and embrace our authentic selves.
Expect all sorts of reasons and sabre rattling from them as to why you shouldn’t change:

· Attention seeking and guilt throwing, to attempt to distract you from your course.
· Implying that there’s something wrong with you
· Encouraging others in support of their opposition to you
· Suggesting others are displeased with the changes you intend
· Injecting fear of the consequences of your changes
· Using emotional blackmail by withdrawing their love until you change back to the ways
that suit them

The disapproval of others often holds us back from making the changes we know in our hearts
are right for us. They will feel that as long as they have to put up with an unfulfilling job, or a
troubled relationship, then so should you. As long as they have to struggle, you have to struggle.
As long as they have to suffer, you have to suffer.

What they project as protecting you from making what they think is a mistake, it is more likely
they are protecting themselves. As we grow and transform, expect others to feel threatened by
that growth.

We cannot allow this to stop us from growing and moving forward as individuals. We have to
accept that our courage will not always be well received by everyone. You will not be alone on
your journey to authenticity, there will be others who will appear in your life who are on the same
journey for themselves.