Being True to Yourself Exercise
In order to feel centered, grounded and content, it is important to know yourself
well and be true to yourself – your values, ideals and goals – in relationships, roles
and activities. Most of us have many selves that we’ve accumulated – layer upon
layer – over the course of our lives. At various times, we may be a people-pleaser
who tries to be good, kind and well-behaved, a rebel who wants to chart new
paths and reject authority, a fixer who tries to make everything better for
everyone else, a peacemaker who avoids conflict at all costs, or the funny one
who tries make others happy all the time.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in these various roles that we lose sight of who
we really are or want to be – particularly if we’ve been rewarded by others for
these behaviors. When we get disconnected from our true or authentic self, we
can begin to feel empty, dissatisfied and confused. Without being true to
ourselves, we also can’t offer the kind of openness and honesty that truly
intimate relationships require.
Being authentic means being self-aware (knowing and trusting one’s own
motives, emotions), being honest in evaluating one’s own strengths and
weaknesses and acting in ways that are in line with personal values and needs,
even at the risk of being criticized or rejected.
Think about the following:
