Author: Lizette Volkwyn
Be Unique, be YOU, nobody can be YOU…and so we hear these quotes daily, but what does it really mean to Embrace your Authenticity? Many years ago I attended a conference and the theme was Be different and show up as YOU. For me, at that point in my life, it was a no-brainer of […]
Be Unique, be YOU, nobody can be YOU…and so we hear these quotes daily, but what does it really mean to Embrace your Authenticity?
Many years ago I attended a conference and the theme was Be different and show up as YOU. For me, at that point in my life, it was a no-brainer of course I am going to show up like me, being different, well that was the part I had difficulty grasping. I don’t want to stand out of the crowd, I want to fit in. I want to be accepted as conforming to the norm, and do what is acceptable according to society.
Fast forward years later, I managed to grasp the concept of Authenticity and what it really means to be YOU.
Authenticity is the quality of being genuine or real no additives added.
Easy enough? I think not. In a world where our lines of authenticity and society expectations are blurred it becomes more and more difficult to embrace your authenticity.
The question is now, how do we stay or embrace authenticity in a world begging for us to conform?
For me, it was more than just being authentic but rather a journey of self-exploration and embracing my authenticity whether I liked it or not.
Was it easy, no it wasn’t. It asked of me, to be totally honest, going raw, do a deep dive into my being and then love what I discovered.
So how did I do it? Here are a few tips on how to dig deep and embrace your authenticity.
Firstly, you need to strip all your labels right down to the core of you.
Labels? These as those generic words we so easily add to our presentation of ourselves, ie. Mom, Granny, Partner, Job title, Status, Education, etc. Take them all away and have a good look at what is left. Who are you? Who are you really? What do you like? What are your characteristics? What are your core values?
Understanding who you are enables you to start seeing your authenticity, your uniqueness, your power, the part that no one else can copy cat.
Secondly, Celebrate your strengths and nurture your weaknesses.
This is the exciting part…you might say I don’t really have strengths, but look again. Just because you are not building an empire or are at the top of your peer group does not mean you don’t have strengths. Your strength could lie in the fact that you are always lending an ear when your partner, friend, or colleague needs to vent. It could be your organizing skills when it comes to family get-togethers, or it could be that special gift to dish up the best meal for friends and family. Whatever it is, embrace it, this is what makes YOU.
As for your weaknesses, nurture them. This is not the time to bully yourself, run yourself to the ground and believe all the lies you are about to tell yourself. No, this is the time to nurture your weaknesses, whether it is impatience, shyness, a lack of confidence, or any other issue you might see as a weakness.
If it is impatience, practice meditation. Confidence, then engage with a confidence coach. The important part of all this is to ensure that whatever you see as a weakness, is to engage in methods to improve on them.
Thirdly, find your uniqueness.
In a world that shouts conformity, it is the authenticity that overrules the norm and allows for vulnerability and sincerity, to carry the day.
Our subconscious mind is the tattle tell of who we truly are. In my profession as Truth and Credibility consultant, our subconscious mind reveals what we are meant to say, which we have no control over. Whether through a mannerism, a twitch, or a way of speaking, when we are not true to who we really are, our body will go out of sync.
Authenticity asks of us to be vulnerable.
The scary part is that no one wants to open up, just to get hurt, rejected, or laughed at, but if we can show the world that we accept everyone around us in their own unique authentic way, we can teach others to do the same and before we know it the world has become a kinder place for all of us.
No one wants to show their cards, but here I am today, begging of you to go and take time out and celebrate your uniqueness.
Uniqueness could be in the way you make people laugh, the way organize in moments of chaos or it could be the way you care….whatever it is EMBRACE IT.
Three small steps, giant leaps to authenticity and confidence.
In closing, not every one of us is meant to steer the ship, but it requires all of us to bring our unique set of skills to this world to steer to happiness, vulnerability, and success.
Contact Us at WeSpeak Global and follow us on Facebook
The articles, video and images embedded on these pages are from various speakers and talent.
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.
Clarity Certainty and Hope. Many have spoken about VUCA times, where it all becomes Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. We had a large taste of it in 2008, during the global financial crash, but the Coronavirus has really challenged every nation, and every person. We will share some thoughts and insights that may help you […]
Life has suddenly become potentially very thorny. The goal posts have shifted completely and now the Necessity is the mother of reinvention. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust us all into a strange new world. The rules of engagement have been turned completely upside down. There is no more ‘normal’. We don’t even know where or […]
I mean, isn’t that the nature of goals to begin with? What’s missing between you and your goals might be walking the walk of your goals — not just talking the talk. Or rather, running the run of your goals. I’ll tell you what I mean. Goals are easy to think of but harder to achieve, aren’t […]
Some companies perceive the concept of creating a “Personal Branding at work” to be self-serving for the employee. But the reality is there is no downside to having team members with heightened self-awareness and a willingness to improve themselves. Basically, that is the foundation for developing a respected Personal Brand at work; to get clarity […]
Ten years ago, I was retrenched from a marketing and sales position. My story is the same as many other people. Sometimes losing a job can point towards a better life and opportunities you never thought possible and now Ten Years as an Entrepreneur. After my retrenchment, I didn’t have an epiphany about starting a […]
“Technology is exponential but humans are not and can do great things, but it does not WANT to do great things – it does not want anything” says Apple’s CEO Tim Cook (a quote I have often used in my talks). Technology is a tool not a purpose – see my ‘carpenter and the hammer example’ (video). “Both […]
An observation on kitchen size and what is the best. The house we live in is on the market and people are coming to view it. The kitchen is quite small and some potential buyers have commented on the size, with a sigh. When I thought about this I remembered how in our previous home, […]
A framework from my book Humancentric for how to create Relationship and Intelligence in businesses in the fourth industrial revolution. How do we focus more on people than technology? When we do our research behind all of the aspects of business, we need to focus on the context we are in, the relationships around that […]
Our Mission
© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME
