Self Discovery: The Key to Living an "Authentic" Life

The journey to self discovery is the attempt to discover who you are without the feelings and opinions of your family, friends and society.  This is hard work because for most of our lives we have been greatly influenced and our personalities shaped by what others think and perceive of us.  So much so, that we often change our dreams, goals, plans and visions to fit what others expect and believe we should be.  This is what I call the “created” self.  The created self keeps others around you happy, but it keeps you in a place of misery, burnout, and exhaustion. More importantly, it removes you from the predestined purpose that God designed for your life. 

Many people, including myself, experience or have experienced the internal battle between your “authentic” self and your “created” self.  And as I have traveled along my journey of self-discovery, I have come to find five very important principles that have helped me to remain accountable to my authenticity. They are:

1.       Being able to acknowledge what you like and what you don’t.

2.       Understanding that taking this journey may cause you to lose people and things that have been toxic for you but have provided you comfort.

3.       Being courageous enough to face your truths and accept them, knowing that you MUST forgive AND forget!

4.       Allowing yourself to be vulnerable and open to change.

5.       Caring enough to be honest with others and realizing that they may not accept your truths. 

     As you move along the journey of self-discovery it is also important to have a quality support system.  You will need the support and encouragement of others to make you accountable when you waver in confidence, to reassure you when you feel unsure, and to motivate you to continue to live your truths.  In order to build a solid support system, you may want to begin with a mental health professional, like the counselors at Pamper Your Mind, who have the knowledge, skills and expertise to guide you on your path to self-discovery!