Let Go of Phony and Be Yourself

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

~Dr. Suess

In other words, be yourself. Be authentic. When you are being yourself, others know you are authentic. They can accept for who you are, or not. The point is that when you act in an authentic way, people who do accept you are accepting the "real" you, instead of someone you are pretending to be. The problem with pretending is that people can see through the phoniness. Even if they buy your phony routine, ultimately you won't be able to maintain it. The real you will shine through at some point or another. And if someone has believed you to be someone else, they end up feeling betrayed and angry.

This week: Experiment with being yourself. Let your guard down and express your authentic self in at least two different settings. Notice what happens. Do you have more fun? Is there less pressure? How do others accept you? Notice how good it feels when someone accepts you for your "real self."

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people reach their goals and overcome the obstacles that block their dreams. Sometimes those obstacles are the ways we sabotage ourselves, pretending to be someone we are not. For more information about her services and some free resources, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ .