Each morning I draw three affirmation cards from a small handcrafted bowl that I keep on my desk.

The words on these cards provide me with daily goals, they help me to maintain a focus on how I can provide safe, nurturing support for my soul.

This morning I have drawn spontaneity, compassion and authenticity – important qualities necessary for soulful creative expression.

It does not surprise me that I have drawn the word ‘authenticity’. The last few days I have been contemplating these two questions: How am I being authentic? How am I keeping my life real?

I grew up in an environment where it didn’t feel safe to feel, it actually felt uncomfortable.

This probably had a lot to do with the fact that neither of my parents grew up in family environments where they were encouraged to feel or discuss their emotions.

Im not unique in this situation, many of us grew up in emotionally silent environments. Some were raised in environments where they were punished if they felt angry, sad, mad or just wanted to yell or cry for no particular reason other than release pent up emotions.

Consequently, we are instilled subconsciously with the belief that it isn’t safe to feel or express the entire range of our emotions because we might be considered ‘bad’ or ‘ungrateful’.

As a result, we can mature into adults who are separated from certain aspects of ourselves, or think there is something wrong with us if we feel a particular way. Others spend a life time creating and acting out of false persona’s because they want to be someone or something they perceive as being acceptable to others.

We inherit a conditioned script from our family and culture. Based on this script we cast people in the movie that we call ‘our life’. The word “authentic” comes from the Greek meaning “one who acts on his own authority”. To be authentic we must ditch our conditioned script in order to become the author of our own life.

As authors, it is important that we examine our core beliefs because they provide the basis from which we make decisions about ourselves, who we invite into our life, and how we act or participate in our world. It is important to examine whether these core beliefs are based on fact, ie. are they real, or are they a product of our conditioning.

There are two paths to authenticity: the inner path and the outer path. The inner path requires more than a state of awareness, it is easy to be aware of who we are, however, feeling safe ‘BEING’ who we are is another story entirely. So the inner path is about a state of ‘being’ and the outer path requires that we effectively communicate this state of ‘being’ to the world.

Hence to be authentic we must consistently, and with integrity, honor and express our deeply felt impulses, our state of ‘being’. Authenticity requires daily commitment to who we are and how we feel.

Get used to looking to see how you feel. Don’t assume you know. – Cheri Huber

Today I restore authenticity in my life by allowing myself to feel the full range of my emotions.

I create a safe loving space within myself where I nurture and accept all aspects of my self without judgement.

I refrain from trying to analyse why I feel the way I feel and focus instead on how I feel. I accept that I cannot use a thought to work out a feeling.

Today I release all expectations of my self and just allow myself to “be”. I am loving and accepting of myself, I am proud of who I am.

I practise authenticity by keeping my life real.

I keep my life – my actions and responses, real by regularly checking in with how I feel. It is safe and human for me to feel.

I channel some of my best creative ideas and changes through what I once deemed negative emotions.

In maintaining a sense of safety, my inner artist in free to play and create art, just for the sake of creating.