I want to talk about something that’s been whispering through so many of our conversations lately: authenticity, not as a trendy word or a polished Instagram quote, but as a real, embodied way of being. It’s the part of us that aches to drop the performance, release the pressure, and simply live in alignment with our true essence.
For so long, power has been about performance: keeping it all together, achieving, striving. But that kind of power is exhausting and doesn’t feed the soul.
Something is shifting in our collective. I feel it, and I know many of you do, too. The women I speak with are no longer willing to wear masks, hustle for worthiness, or shrink themselves to meet expectations. They crave authenticity.
And given we live in a world that often rewards harshness and dominance, a different kind of power is emerging: a power that is gentle, not weak, not passive, but magnetic, intuitive, fierce in its tenderness. It’s the kind of power that comes when our inner values and our outer actions meet in harmony.
I see authenticity as a healthy alignment between who we truly are and how we show up.
When we remember who we are,
- We say yes with an open heart and without guilt
- We choose what nourishes us and lifts our spirits instead of what pleases others
- We take our place with grace, even when it’s uncomfortable
- We acknowledge and release the masks we’ve worn to survive and let the real self breathe
- We live with purpose and meaning
I often say: Authenticity is a finely tuned bullshit barometer because inauthenticity is loud, and people feel that something’s off, even if they can’t name it. It creates dissonance and erodes trust. But when you’re truly authentic, people sense it immediately. They trust you. They feel safe in your presence, and it’s not because you’re perfect, hold a title, or have all the answers—it’s because you’re real.
I understand living authentically isn’t always easy. We’ve all been conditioned to fit in, to play safe, to be liked. But there comes a moment when the ache to be real becomes louder than the fear of being judged. That’s the moment the rules begin to change.
I want to offer you a simple practice I use when I feel out of alignment or unsure:
Authenticity Check-In Practice
Take a moment. Get still. Relax into your breath and gently check in with yourself. Be kind.
Let go of any judgment and know this is not about fixing, it’s about observing.
Ask yourself:
- How am I feeling right now?
- Am I in alignment or out of alignment?
- What does the real me need in this moment?
- If I fully trusted myself, what would I say or do?
The more we understand what arises within us, the more we come to know who we truly are and why we behave the way we do. From this space of awareness, we can return to our true selves.
Authenticity isn’t something we have to strive for. It’s who we are when we stop being someone we’re not.
How different might life be if we measures success not by doing more but by being more of who you already are?
Be your inspiration.
