Authentic (adjective) — of undisputed origin; genuine.

I had a wonderful conversation with my friend the other day on the subject of authenticity and what it FEELS like to live in such a way. We essentially spoke about how challenging it is to live in our TRUTH and so it got me to thinking. I believe living in truth requires a couple different things:

1. A willingness/openness to experience our genuine desires, feelings and emotions.
<once we are aware of these desires..>
2. An allowing of these desires to move us and influence our lives.

The thing that makes these responsibilities so challenging is that we often have a rigid idea of what we want our lives to look like, how our jobs will unfold, who we will spend our days with, whom we love, how we are treated, how we wish to feel etc etc. And so we then have this choice whether to stay rigid in our small understanding of how we believe our life should or should not unfold or instead let the shell of our understanding be cracked and laid aside. Sure, the latter might sound incredibly freeing but in reality it is more often than not, incredibly uncomfortable. Expanding, transforming, opening, requires a willingness to be radically who we are even if it means moving through stages of discomfort, sadness, loneliness. Although for sure, nothing is more painful than living a life that is not an expression of your bona fide Self.

Can you appreciate that every desire is holy? Are you willing to let it move you?

“blessed be the longing that brought you here
and quickens your soul with wonder.

may you have the courage to listen to the voice of desire
that disturbs you when you have settled for something safe.

may you have the wisdom to enter generously into your own unease
to discover the new direction your longing wants you to take.

may the forms of your belonging – in love, creativity, and friendship –
be equal to the grandeur and the call of your soul.”
-John O’ Donohue

Pranams to your Truth,
Ash