4 Ways to live more authentically

It is common for people to desire to live more authentically, that is, to feel more at ease with life.  To be honest with yourself about who you are and why you what you do is actually easier than you think.  Make changes as you see fit.  Consider four ways to live more authentically right now;

1) Pay attention to your body.  Your body language is always sending you signals.  Where you seem drowsy, feel restless, slouch or or are generally inattentive, you are expressing disinterest.  Its possible you are in one place in body but another in thought or soul.  If you do not wish to be somewhere, you are acting against deeper will.  This tells you that you are not listening to the subtler or natural tendencies inside.  Where posture exudes confidence and you are at ease in your own skin, you know you are in the right place.

2) Notice your thoughts. The more you notice the kinds of thoughs racing through your head, the better you get to know your true self.  Where the mind is focused on the past or future, or if you find yourself dwelling on judgment and comparison, this is ego or fear based living.  Shifting attention is simply shifting focus from thought-to-thought.  To be focused on this present moment is where you are most true to yourself.  Awareness takes over from thought in the here and now.  Only love and acceptance exist.

3) Recognize emotions as a gauge.  Such energy originates as thoughts in the mind and is often mistaken for feelings (of the heart).  When you make choices that resonate, you do not doubt, fear or question. Negative emotions indicate how far away you are from making the best choice for yourself at a given moment.  Positive emotions reinforce how authentic or good you feel about your choices.  If you feel torn in some situation, then emotions point you in the most suitable direction.

4) Be aware of your feelings.  These are the unexplainable vibes you get. It is your intuitive side that has no logic the mind can grasp.   True feelings are a synonym for pure awareness and the feeling centre is in the heart.  When you live in this moment, you appreciate where you are and see it in realtion to the big picture.  You feel interconnected to all that is and gain insight into yourself from everything, seeing it as a reflection of divine nature.

Let go of what is important

Enjoyed engaging interactions with Stevn Hairfield and special guest Jeff Daugherty on Insight Radio.  Access the archives to listen to the May 15/16 show.  Feedback is always appreciated.

In this particular program, Jeff offers his own compelling story about what caused him to wake up, see his behaviour and life in a whole new way. He shares how direct experience enables each of us to explore the power of ego to control us and what it is to let go of all we think is important.  He reflects on his resistance to certain attachments, ambitious professional roles and lifestyle, and how he now feels born again, and all his experiences makes him who is his right now. Losing what he thought was important enables him to see the world and his place in it with new eyes. 

Whether life-changing revelations are triggered by relationship break-ups, environmental disasters, health concerns, work-related crises or something else, the universal message is clear: Move from self-centred to soul- centred living. Nothing is hard unless you believe it is. The underlying question is, why allow things to escalate to where crisis is what you require to shift from seeing your life through the selfish head to seeing through the compassionate heart?

The irony and blessing is that what the ego thinks matters temporarily hides who we really are. The unreal life that temporarily engages our attention can be very convincing. However, the real is ever-present and cannot die. It is part of an individual journey to forget how to feel what is right, and also an option for each person to shift back from ego-based thinking to heartfelt or authentic living. You may be taught to over-complicate what is simple, but whatever it takes, the universe brings you to a point where you are invited to trust your own feelings more. The more you trust in the unknown, the more the universe gives you reason to trust life. Honouring this is easy. Live from the heart a new kind of purpose-driven life. Lick your finger to feel the wind direction. Go with it. Shift from doing to being. Be aware and love who you choose to be.

Live the truth of yourself

Live the truth of yourself.  Who you truly are exists beyond all your illusions and fear. Humans create mental barriers to block seeing true self.  Fear is warden of this imaginary prison.

Know everyone is a messenger bringing self a message from the heart and soul. May you recognize the soulful message of loving kindness. Share who you are in all you do and do not do, all you say and all you do not say. Be aware of all you are and always have been, all you will forever be. Every thought you create, every choice you make, either conceals the love you are or expands on it. Notice how it feels to be aware that every being, all things, are divine.

Be happy now

At the centre of your being, you are happy to be you.  You are glad to be the way you are at this moment and you are happy about what is arising.  You see the path to the answer you require.  You know who you are and you are exploring unique forms of self expression.  Every choice you make is pointing to what it is to live authentically.  As you reflect here, you are feeling better and better and begin to notice your healthy sheen.  Notice the nature of stepping stones in your life. Insight is speaking to and through you.  Notice what you see and what is expanding.  Everything is a teacher.

"We must never forget that it is through our actions, words and thoughts that we have a choice."-Sogyal Rinpoche

Be realized

Every moment is a stage of a journey into a perpetual self-discovery. Notice whether you are true to what you feel in the heart. Notice how you view or filter the world through your beliefs and perceptions. This is what limits your awareness of reality.  Its not all that is.

When the inner judge is active, you resist listening to the heart.  Notice which emotions drive you.  Notice whether you believe you must do something to become better than you are.  This restless state of mind resists the obvious. The mind thinks everything you do is a necessary step toward achieving or earning self-acceptance. What if this is misguided?

As you accept who you are, whatever happens is the best case scenario. How does it feel to be authentic? Well, as you feel the way here, and all life choices are stepping stones.  Emotion no longer controls you.  Intuition is trusted inner guidance.  Suddenly, balance, wholeness, vitality, clarity, peace and contentment are here. The seeker is the finder here and now. 

If you ponder the path, yoga is empowering.  It is more than physical stretching and poses.  It is also a way of seeing the world through the clarity of a calm mind and lens of an open heart.  Through regular practice, yoga expands awareness of physical and psychological states.  This enables you to step back, observe your reactions and coping mechanisms.  As yoga practice becomes effortless, second nature, infinite being is reached.  You master self.

"Words fail to conveythe total value of yoga.  It has to be experienced."  -Prashant S. Iyengar

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure..." - Marianne Williamson