Be Yourself

"You can't base your life on other people's expectations."

~Stevie Wonder 

We've all done it at some point or another--tried to live our lives based on someone else's expectations.  Those people might have been our parents.  Or maybe our peers.  Or a significant other. Most of us have learned the hard way that basing your life on other people's expectations leaves you living someone else's life.  And, just like wearing someone else's shoes, it may not fit very well.  You life needs to be a reflection of you.  It needs to reflect what is important to you, what you are passionate about, what brings you joy (or sorrow).  Each of us is given a life to live, and we deserve to live it to the fullest. 

This week: Take a hard look at how much you are living your life to fit someone else's expectations.  Are you compromising your values to get along? Are you ignoring things you like to do because someone else doesn't feel the same way?  Are you going along to get along?  Are you avoiding long overdue confrontations?  If so, make a decision to be more of yourself.  Do ONE SMALL THING to express something about yourself, regardless of whether or not others approve.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people identify what is most important to them and help them overcome the "need to please." She wants people to live meaningful, purposeful lives and created Discover Your Life's Purpose: 7 Steps to a Life of Meaning & Authenticity, a self help CD/workbook program.  For more information go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ .

Tune In to Your Inner Music

"We rarely hear the inward music, but we're all dancing to it nevertheless."

~Rumi

We are all guided, whether we realize it or not, by our inner, often unconscious thoughts, feelings, beliefs and passions.  Realizing that you are responding to that inner music, and beginning to "tune in" to it allows you to utilize that resource in a greater way.  When you do that, you enhance your ability to live fully and meaningfully.  It is the inner music that moves you toward your Life's Purpose. It is the song that you can share with others to create even greater harmony.

This week:  Take some time to tune in to your inner music.  What thoughts drift through your mind when you are alone?  What passions do you want to share?  When do you feel and act your very best?  When do you hear that still, small voice urging you to listen?  What themes show up repeatedly in your life?  If you knew what it was, what would you want to call the song of YOUR life?  Notice where your thoughts lead you.  Allow yourself to follow these new paths, even if only for this one week.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and creator of the Discover Your Life's Purpose program, a 7 step self help audio CD and workbook program to help you discover your life's purpose.  She is an expert at helping people tune in to their unconscious beliefs and their inner music.  For more information, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/

The Real Key to Authenticity

 "Become who you are."

~Nietzsche

We hear a lot about being "authentic."  The key to authenticity is to be who you really are.  So many people put on masks to disguise who they really are with their coworkers, peers and even with their loved ones.  All of us have a core identity composed of who we really are and are intended to be.  To "become who you are" you must allow that real you to peek out and begin to act in ways that are congruent with that "you."  This means living in accordance to your values, sharing who you are with others--warts and all.  Often it means living in accordance with your life's true purpose, even if it isn't the popular way of doing things.  As you become who you really are, you really begin to live authentically and people will be attracted to that authenticity.

This week:  Think about who you really are.  Think about what you've tried to hide about yourself from the world.  Just for this ONE WEEK, practice being who you really are with at least one person.  You can pick a complete stranger or someone close to you.  Notice how it feels when the mask is down.  Do you feel vulnerable?  Uncertain?  Fearful of rejection?  Or do you feel free?  Unleashed?  Maybe a combination of all of these feelings?  Notice the reaction of that person to you being who you really are.  At the end of the week evaluate whether you chose wisely the person to share yourself with authentically.  What would you do differently next time?  Use this information to make decisions about trusting others with "the real you."  

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and trainer at the Inner Resource Center in Maryville, TN.  She is an expert at helping people uncover their authentic selves, including discovering their life's purpose.  She specializes in helping people make transformational changes quickly through intensive break-through sessions.  For more information about resources to help you make big changes in your life, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/