Amazing Guest Blogger Today!

Time to Meet Your Authentic Self
Trey Malicoat, MS, Founder of the BoldLife Project

When we meet our authentic self, we embrace the self we define, not the “self” defined by the external world. We look in the mirror and see our own beauty as it is, and we never fall prey to the comparisons we make with the world. We stop thinking we are too overweight even when we might just be twenty pounds heavier than we should be. We stop thinking our boobs are too small or too large. We disregard the recession of our hairline. We stop thinking we need the latest fashionable bag or new pair of jeans. We just relax and stop comparing ourselves to the unattainable images we see and we embrace ourselves just as we are!

As an authentic person, you realize that outside appearances are far less important than the state of your heart. What is most interesting is when you look in that same mirror and you celebrate the extra 20 pounds, the gently rounded frame, the slightly recessive hairline, and the jeans you got three years earlier. To get to this point, you must embrace the idea that you are perfect just as you are; in your beauty and perceived flaws because you have a wonderful heart! You know what I mean...we gravitate to outside beauty in the immediate, and we cling to the people with inner beauty for a lifetime. Have you ever noticed, the most wonderful people in the world are not necessarily the most attractive and you never hear one of these people criticizing themselves as they look in a mirror… these people are grounded in authenticity because they know what’s inside is far more attractive than what is on the outside.
To meet your authentic self you also give voice to the concept that your past does not define you in the present moment. Here is the earth-shattering news...each one of us literally have the ability and opportunity to redefine ourselves every single day. We can wake up and choose to put our past behind us and live differently. If you think I am crazy, ask yourself why you think you cannot redefine yourself...only because you have been taught by the world that you have no control. Think about how significant it is to be able to redefine yourself differently every single day. There is great freedom in knowing that you are not held by the past. You can throw your failures from the past straight into the garbage can! You can free yourself from the limited thoughts from the past that tell you, “you are not smart enough to write that book. You are not good at relationships because you have been through a divorce. You cannot have a great new career because you were fired from your past job. You are fat, ugly, nonathletic, and a loser.” All of these messages fly in the face of personal redefinition.

When you embrace the idea that you can redefine yourself every single day, you have taken a mighty leap toward authenticity. The truly authentic person does not let the past define them in any way; they draw from their past experiences to do the present more effectively. Authentic people wake up every day with the bold belief that they have control over their personal destiny. Authentic people know they have control over how they see themselves in the world and make the best choices based on their perceptions; they know the only things they have control over are personal perception and personal reaction.

Authenticity requires developing an accurate perception, and allowing you to define in the present moment. Furthermore, authentic people see their own personal beauty through a lens of self-appreciation. Bottom line...you are completely fine just the way you are! Shall we all take a mighty leap toward living authentically?

A Passionate & Authentic Life

We all want to live a bold and dynamic passionate life, but many of us are caught in the process of not being able to break free from the demands and pressures of life. We get stuck and the longer we are, the less passionate we become. We lose passion for our work, our partners, our families, and our communities. In fact, many of us become walking zombies going through the motions of life and eventually believing the idea that we don’t deserve passion in our lives.
We do deserve passion: passion in our personal and professional lives, passion in our actions and our thoughts, passion in the everyday activities. Each one of us deserve the opportunity for a bold and purposeful life...a life that when reflected on, forces others to stand in awe. A passionate life comes when you show up authentically!

Authentic Living: Honoring Your Internal Voice

I had a professor in college that used to say, “Say your lines with conviction and dance your dance your dance as if it were your last.” I don’t think I fully realized what he meant until I actually found my inner voice. How often is your internal voice blunted by the committee in your head? This committee sits in the board room of your mind and is responsible for helping you remember your past mistakes, failures and limitations; the messages from the committee that seem so strong and often, so untrue.

To find your powerful internal voice, you must begin by taking a soul searching journey of your own mind; a journey that requires you to take note of all the messages in your mind and then ask who recorded these messages. Furthermore, you need to determine if these messages are true and accurate or simply disillusions and mistruths. Authentic life comes when you honor your internal voice and fire the committee in your head!

What Would You Ultimately Do?

Do you need a dose of courage today? I love this quote, “What would you do today if you knew you wouldn’t fail?” As you think about living a more passionate and authentic life, answer this question and then take steps to make your dreams a reality. Do you want to write a book or start a business? Have you thought about being an artist or writing the next great symphony? Do you have a desire to make a difference in the lives of others providing healthcare or food for people who are less fortunate than you? Do you want to travel? Do you want to live life differently and with someone else? By answering the question, “What would you do today if you knew you wouldn’t fail?” you are one step closer to making dreams a reality.

If you are interested in a personal conversation about how you can more effectively launch yourself toward personal and professional success, please contact Trey Malicoat via email:

trey@boldlifeproject.com or via telephone (303) 888-2700.

Visit our website www.boldlifeproject.com

Thank you, Trey, for this inspirational and out-of-the-box approach to pursuing our very best selves!