What Happens When You Embrace Your Genuine Self?

Do you ever wonder what your life will be like when you truly embrace your genuine self?

What awaits you beyond your ‘what-ifs’ and ‘not-yets’?

Read on.

Sitting in a diner this morning I looked across the crowded room and my eye was captured by a smiling tween-aged boy eating breakfast with his parents. The front of his shaggy hair was colored a vivid, bright, lime green.

“Wow!” I smiled and thought, “Now that is fantastic! Good for him!”

A few minutes later I noticed that his hair matched his sneaks. Another inside nod of enjoyment accompanied my thought of “And who wears lime green sneaks so confidently?”

Lost in these thoughts as our cheerful waitress glided over to our table, I was then captivated by the abundant and multi-colored, lively tattoos running up and down her arms. All kinds of images, vibrantly-hued, twirled through the air as she gracefully refilled coffee mugs and balanced plates of food.

And, again, I thought, “How cool! I wonder what each of those mean to her? Good for her!”

Those were two of the many souls in that diner that morning, being their genuine selves with comfort and joy.

“Just be yourself. Let people see the real, imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird, beautiful & magical person that you are.” ~ Mandy Hale

Now, you have probably often heard something to the effect of what Mandy Hale states above, how recognizing yourself and being yourself are what life is all about.

Each aspect of your TRUE self, as you uncover it and shine it up, adds your unique energy and vibration to the world.

And that is an amazing, powerful gift to the world!

What is in it for you?

Good question!

I mean, embracing your true self is sometimes easier said than done.

There are so many things to consider: self-expectations, family implications, friend connections, work requirements, societal mores, etc.

Sometimes it is easier to just go with the flow, fit in, and fly under the radar.

So why should you put all the effort and energy into being your genuine self?

What happens when you embrace your genuine self

Well, here are a handful of benefits you may look forward to when you allow your true self to shine through.

You inspire others

When others witness you being true to yourself, see your joy, freedom, and self-comfort, you are a role model for them. They see that it is possible to be genuine and real and happy in day-to-day life. They are motivated and encouraged to seek the same strength and individuality for themselves. And being the inspiration for others to live their best life is definitely something to be proud of!

You live in alignment with your beliefs and values

As you realize and clarify your beliefs and values, you get to know your true self on a deeper level, which allows you to set boundaries for yourself and prioritize what you permit into your life. Living in alignment with your own beliefs and values means that you are not expending your energy trying to ‘fit in’ with others. So, you have more energy to expend on those things that are of priority to you. It also means that you are no longer susceptible to other people’s expectations or beliefs. You know who you are, and this knowing guides you along your journey. You are in control of your life!

You are happier

When you are living in alignment with your true self, you know that your thoughts, actions and words are coming from a space of genuineness. You accept yourself, and others are drawn to accept you also. You are free to be you, and thus the weight of not being you is removed. Yes!

You are more confident

Once you embrace your true self you proclaim to the world exactly who you are in this moment. Because you are clear in your beliefs, values and priorities, you are able to confidently make decisions and take action for the highest good of all concerned. No need to hide behind a façade, second-guess your motivations, or think about ‘what if such-and-such’. You got this.

You build courage

Embracing your genuine you and living your life to reflect that is not always the easiest thing to do… it takes a lot of courage! For instance, in honoring your true self you may need to remove yourself from certain situations, establish new friendships, try new experiences, or take on different responsibilities. You might also be working through some doubts or insecurities. All of these require a degree of courage. Keep in mind, as Christopher Robin said in Winnie the Pooh, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

You find true friends

As you embrace your genuine, real self, you will find true friends in others who are embracing their true selves, as well as others whose true selves align with yours. Humans recognize the genuineness in one another, so even though your paths may be different, you honor the finding and following of oneself in each other and find connection in that. There is also deep connection to be found as you find your ‘tribe’: those whose beliefs and values align with yours. You are there to support and guide one another. Enjoy the realness and joy that comes with feeling ‘at home’.

Not bad benefits, right?

Now, thinking back to the diner, here were all these people. From all walks of life. Different ages, cultures, backgrounds, you name it. All in one place to share a meal with family and/or friends.

And thinking back to the young man and the waitress in particular, what caught my mind about them?

In this space they were confident.

They were happy.

They were courageous to show, figuratively and literally, their true colors.

They caused me to stop and think, “Wow! Good for them for being themselves!”.

They became role models and inspirations for me (I went home ready to throw on my cowboy boots and deliver some hand-made gemstone jewelry to some special folks).

So, if that is what happens when you embrace your genuine self…what are you waiting for?!