Authenticity

READY... “This above all:  To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”  ~ Hamlet, Shakespeare

 

 

AIM…  Are you being true to your own self?  Do you act differently around different people?  I mean, who ARE you, really?  Being authentic is simply being you.  You know, the genuine, unaltered, real version of you.  Do you even know who YOU are?  It seems that people have so many expectations about who they want us to be in life. However, the only people we have to be is ourselves.  If you have to change who you are to please someone else, that should raise a huge red flag.  A leopard doesn’t change its spots; we shouldn’t have to change our personalities either.  As long as we have a clear conscience about the life we are living and the choices we are making, we have nothing to worry about. Just be real!  Authenticity is hard to validate in our society.  However, just give it time.  A fake person will reveal herself one way or another. When you are yourself, you chose the easy path.  If you are being yourself, you’ve got nothing to worry about.  You won’t have to fill shoes that your feet don’t fit into.  What a relief!

FIRE!   Authenticity is the alignment of head, mouth, heart, and feet – thinking, saying, feeling, and doing the same thing – consistently.  This builds trust, and followers love leaders they can trust.  ~ Lance Secretan.  Isn’t this exactly what we are all looking for; authentic leaders and friends we can trust?  So…what about you?

Be Excellent!

Lori

Being Strong

READY… “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

AIM… It’s such a popular mantra, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” If that statement is true, how much is too much? Where do you draw the line? You know what they say, “No pain no gain.” (Who are ‘they’ anyway?) I suppose the pain depends a lot on the situation you are faced with. Are you talking about your fitness commitment or quitting a bad habit? Perhaps you are referring to a toxic relationship or an uncomfortable work environment? Whatever the case may be, only you can determine when you've hit the limit between healthy and harmful or productive and hurtful. What doesn't kill you may truthfully injure you physically or scar you emotionally or, even worse, leave you beaten down and completely unmotivated. Only you can decide when to draw the line. Only you can decide when you’ve had enough. Only you can determine when you are strong enough to make the change you need. Don’t let the world, or someone else, decide what makes you stronger.

FIRE!   Be courageous and strong this week! Recognize one area in your life where you’ve had enough and you are ready to be done. Find that inner strength to take one step to exercising your strength. Be confident and strong and stick up for yourself!

Be Excellent!
Lori

The Real You

READY… “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland

AIM… I am a firm believer that you need to live this life as the person God created you to be. So many people I know walk around wearing disguises and should really get an award for their acting skills. Why on earth would you want to put on an act and try to be someone or something you clearly are not? It must be exhausting to worry day after day which mask you’re going to wear with which person and when. Friends, if you cannot enjoy life as the person you are and appreciate the talents, gifts and personality God blessed you with, then I’m sorry to say you will live a very unfulfilled and unsatisfied life. You will never achieve greatness because you will constantly be pursuing the goals and dreams everyone expects from you…except yourself. Stop chasing the acceptance and approval of others who can’t or don’t like you for you. If you have to change your behavior, your wardrobe, or lie about your family, career or lifestyle to impress others or gain friendship from others, then you are not only fooling other people, but you are lying to yourself. Embrace your uniqueness! Love yourself! Once you shed the costume and allow your true self to be known, you will see what a liberating feeling you have. Don’t worry if some “friends” drop by the wayside. Real friends love you for you; warts and all. Start being a first-rate version of yourself today.

FIRE!   Write down a list of all the things you do well. Are there personality traits that attract others to you? Post that list in a place where you will be reminded of the positive creation you have become. Commit to being the best version of yourself you can be every day and enjoy the freedom of being the REAL you.

Be Excellent!
Lori