Part II--The Journey to a State Called Authentic

Are you on the road yet? If not, pony up your?.um, pony and pretend that you are gracefully cantering down the road toward that state called Authentic. Imagine that you're riding smoothly just like in the movies. But all of a sudden, your pony hits a rock and you go flying. This will happen. Perhaps not while riding a pony, but in some way as you are living your Authentic Self. Roadblocks surface usually when you're in a wonderful flow, suddenly turning harmonious song into banshee wail. Here are a few tricky roadblocks to watch out for:

Invisible Rules-These are declarations which appear to be universally subscribed to as long-accepted truisms. They seem unquestionably abided by but they actually aren't. We are often not aware of the Invisible Rules that we follow: "My hair & make-up have to be 'done' before I leave the house" or "Women over a certain age should not work short skirts." Invisible Rules create an obstacle because they stop us in our Authentic Self tracks by requiring that we change who we are in order to be like 'everybody else', to conform. They trip us up by their false appearance. 'Everybody else' does their hair before they head out the front door. Or do they?

Bright Shiny Objects- They glitter, vibrate, bounce or blink. In short, they distract. While BSO's might not lead you away from your Authentic Self forever, they do prevent you from fully living your Authentic Self. BSOs act like sugar; they don't add anything to our Authentic Self diet, just a momentary false high. BSOs are different for everyone. To determine yours, ask yourself what your not-so-obvious weaknesses are. These can be an area that has been a strength but presently may be over-accessed or used as a crutch. BSO's sometimes show up in these areas. One huge BSO for me is the Internet. I sometimes gorge myself by replying to non-essential emails right away or perusing various sites under the guise of 'research' when I really need to be working on program design for a new client. The distracting dazzle doesn't last long once you feel the absence of Authentic fulfillment.

Indigenous Excuses- These suckers are so deeply ingrained in your persona that you probably don't even notice their presence. Indigenous Excuses are dangerous because they become like a truth in our mind so since we aren't tuned into hearing the difference, we live our life by a false truth. Some examples are: "I can't afford to advertise" or "It's not the right time to _____ (fill in the blank here: look for a new job, buy a house, start dating again)". Be aware that what you're really saying here is "I won't" as in "I won't advertise my company" or "I won't admit that I am looking for a perfect {read: non-existent} time to start _____." Indigenous Excuses don't allow our Authentic Self to move forward because they keep us stuck in the realm of the changeless past that wasn't working in the first place.

Temptation of Perfection- Perfection can creep into an Authentic Self project or it can worm its way into a conversation. Perfect is the anti-Authentic. When we attempt to introduce perfectionism into something, the Authentic Self ceases to exist. One way that perfection enters conversations is by the need to have the last word or to make someone else's point of view wrong. Instead of allowing perfection in, develop your outside eye-the watcher who observes your actions and thoughts with detachment. Allow that eye to peer into your interactions and act as a guard against the tendency toward perfection. Once perfectionism is spotted, it is easier to stop, drop and roll?and get back to living your Authentic Self.

Once you've identified what roadblocks you are the most susceptible to, it is easier to deal with them. Acknowledge them for what they are. Ultimately these roadblocks are non-essential Authentic Self traps that we fall into, either deliberately as an avoidance method or unintentionally as a bad habit that we hadn't known we had. What distracts you from your Authentic Self? Which roadblock causes particular chaos in your life? Let me know. Now, where did that pony go?

Elizabeth Johnson is a life coach who specializes in women's empowerment through authentic living. Elizabeth helps women recognize that everything in their life is a choice and by putting themselves first, clarifying their passions and values and by building self-confidence, they can have the life that they want. Her business, E. Johnson & Company offers personal growth workshops & seminars, confidence mentoring and custom group programs. Subscribe to Elizabeth's *free* monthly ezine, In The Pink, and receive a *free* copy of her Women & Confidence survey results--http://www.ejohnsonandcompany.com/contact.html

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Are You Killing Your Beautiful Dream?

And the real sad part is that the people involved... Read More

Is There Something Called Free Will

The statement ""The concept of free will is a fallacy""... Read More

What Do You See When You Look In The Mirror?

'Image & Professionalism' we hear these words being thrown around... Read More

4 Helpful Ways To Beat Shyness

Over half of all adults identify themselves as shy. Shyness... Read More

How to Increase Your Income Significantly

I would like you to give your full attention to... Read More

The Power You Possess

What you need to understand is that there is no... Read More

Prosperity on Purpose for a Purpose

Whilst everyone seems hell bent on becoming "wealthy" at all... Read More

You Can?t Seek for Change and Control at the Same Time

I saw a coaching client recently who wanted to get... Read More

Invisible Braces, Viable Solutions

Invisible braces, like Invisalign, are most popular among adults. For... Read More

Your Mind is a Battlefield

Every person should enjoy life in abundance and prosperity, but... Read More

Mental, Emotional and Physical Prosperity

To create true, lasting prosperity, almost any guru can tell... Read More

One of the Many Ways That The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles Gets It Right

I probably would not be able to count the number... Read More

Attitude Is Everything

The process of human change begins within us. We all... Read More

Secrets Of Energy

Lotus dakini gathers energy. When wanting and grasping hold sway... Read More

The Secret of Self Care

Wherever you go, there you are. There's no escaping it... Read More

Antagonists And Fear

It is important to have your own values, beliefs and... Read More

Be Not Afraid, Ye of Midlife

Millions of people face huge changes in their lives during... Read More

Reminding Yourself of Prosperity

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Thoughts are things and... Read More

How to Play to Your Strengths

Are you clear on your unique qualities, talents and personal... Read More

The Law of Attraction in Action

Would you like to be able to experience more of... Read More

The Revolution Begins When YOU take Control

I'd like to share a story with you about two... Read More

Become a Babe Magnet Without Surgery or Drugs!

"I'd like to find a partner who dances. Do you?"... Read More

Demanding Miracles

Have you ever had an overwhelming problem or issue? Was... Read More

The Monkey And The Spreadsheet

When the mind was fidgety, like a monkeyWhen you felt... Read More

Successful Living: 9 Universal Laws

1. The Law of BalanceI got an email from a... Read More

Your Default Settings

Buy a computer--any computer--and it comes loaded with software automatically... Read More

Part II--The Journey to a State Called Authentic

Are you on the road yet? If not, pony up... Read More

Dont Seek Success; Seek Self-Actualization

"You make a living by what you get. You make... Read More

How To Master The Art of Conversation

The art of conversation is a skill shared by most... Read More

The Journey to a State Called Authentic

Sometimes when I refer to the Authentic Self, I receive... Read More

Living Life to the Full: 20 Steps

1. Emotion: We are emotional creatures and as in all... Read More

Im Thinking...But Im not Growing Rich!

So you've read "Think and Grow Rich", and you've got... Read More

How We Evolved Into An Un-Charming Culture...(And What To Do About It)

Charm did not play a very large role in that... Read More