Be Authentic by Walking Your Talk
by Linda-Ann Stewart
Several years ago, an acquaintance told me she’d just been to a conference with many spiritual and personal development speakers. At the reception, she was especially delighted to meet one of her idols. His core message was to be present with the person you were with and to make that person feel important.
He greeted her by looking into her eyes and saying, “You’re very important to me.” But as she spoke to him, his eyes wandered the room, and a few moments later he excused himself. He walked over to greet someone else with the same phrase. She was completely disenchanted by his hypocrisy. He didn’t walk his talk, and lost a devoted follower.
What Authenticity Is and What It Isn’t
When a person’s actions don’t align with what they claim is important to them, this causes others to distrust them. This is true in personal and professional relationships. People are attracted to those who are authentic. Authenticity consists of being sincere, genuine, and living according to your values.
However, if you’re having a bad day or are in a difficult mood, authenticity doesn’t require you to share it with your boss, your customer, or the grocery clerk. That would be counterproductive. It could overwhelm them or cause them to feel uncomfortable. Those in your outer circle crave consistency, reliability and professionalism.
Being True to Yourself
Being connected to your principles allows you to decide how to be present with the different people and situations in your life. When you’re authentic, it denotes that you’re being true to yourself and what you believe in. It increases your credibility to others. In personal relationships, after you’ve built a foundation of trust, it’s appropriate to be vulnerable and reveal more of yourself.
When your words and deeds match, and you follow through on promises and intentions, you establish your integrity. This gives people the message that it’s safe to depend on you. As you walk your talk, you fit your actions to your words. As a result, it instills in you a deep sense of confidence, self-esteem, happiness and inner peace. What values are most important to you and how can you best honor them?
Affirmation:
When I am authentic, then I am being a clear channel for the Universe to flow through me. I choose to live according to my deepest values. By aligning my words and my deeds, I build trust. As I follow through on my promises and intentions, I establish integrity. By being true to myself, I am true to others, as well.
As a focus mentor, hypnotherapist, and writer, Linda-Ann Stewart motivates women entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus and transform their business through deliberate actions that break through distraction and overwhelm to greater success, wellbeing and prosperity.To boost productivity and reduce overwhelm, register for her FREE guide, Design Your Best Day, at https://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html






