What it means to be truly, unapologetically you
Hello and welcome to October!
Last month, I shared thoughts on surrendering to change. This month, I want to explore what it means to be authentically you, especially in a world that often asks us to shape-shift, to perform, or tone ourselves down.
John and I just returned home from an annual yoga retreat in Colorado, a sacred tradition we’ve held since 2022. It’s more than just yoga; it’s a space where we can be completely ourselves. Vulnerable. Open. Held by like-minded souls who remind us that we don’t need to pretend or perform to belong.
This year’s retreat had a beautiful focus on energy. The way we move, speak, show up, all of which carries a vibration. And when we are in our truth, our light shines more freely. It ripples outward. It gives others permission to drop their masks too. Honestly, it feels like magic when I am in that kind of environment!
But in everyday life? It’s not always that easy.
We show different parts of ourselves in different spaces. Sometimes this is natural and safe, but other times, it feels like a quiet betrayal. I know that feeling well. When I can’t show up fully as myself, something inside me begins to shrink. It’s like wearing my shoes on the wrong feet: I can still function, but everything feels… well – off.
Authenticity, for me, isn’t about oversharing or pushing against the world. It’s about alignment. It’s about honoring the truth of who I am, even when it’s quiet, even when it’s inconvenient.
💬 A Personal Truth
When I was younger, I believed that being “adaptable” was a strength, and often, it was. But over time, I realized that being overly adaptable can also mean becoming disconnected from yourself.
Whether it was as a parent, a wife, a friend or a businesswoman, there were times when I showed up in ways that were expected rather than true. I could feel myself adjusting my energy depending on the room. And over time, that pattern began to wear on me. As I have gotten older, that pattern just simply doesn’t work for me!
One of the greatest gifts of this season of my life has been learning to notice when I’m dimming my light and gently choosing to stop. Again, this is not always easy or comfortable, but, at this stage of my life, it feels necessary.
🌬 A Centering Practice
Removing the Mask
This is a brief visualization you can try when you feel out of alignment with your true self:
- Sit quietly and close your eyes.
- Breathe slowly into your heart space.
- Imagine yourself gently removing a mask, perhaps one you didn’t even realize you were wearing.
- As you breathe, repeat softly:
“It’s safe to be seen.”
“I am enough, as I am.”
“I return to myself.”
Let your breath ground you. Let your energy settle. Stay here as long as you like.
🌀 Coaching Prompts for Reflection
Here are a few gentle invitations to help you explore where you might be wearing masks—consciously or not:
- Where in your life do you feel most like yourself? Where do you feel the need to perform?
- Are there parts of you that you hide to feel safe, accepted, or in control?
- What would it feel like to bring just 5% more of your authentic self into those spaces?
- What version of you are you longing to reveal but haven’t given permission to yet?
Remember: the goal isn’t perfection; the goal is integration – wholeness.
💚 What I’m Loving Lately
This season, I’m leaning into:
✨ Honest, deep conversations with kind-hearted people
✨ Setting the intention each day to be responsible and aware of the energy I put out into the world
✨ Releasing my worries or concerns by “brain-dumping” before meditating
✨ Reading: Dr. Wayne Dyer’s book: “I Can See Clearly Now” (a fantastic reminder to honor our truth)
💞 A Final Thought
You don’t need to be anyone other than who you are.
The world doesn’t need more perfection. It needs your presence.
Your truth. Your energy. Your light.
This month, I hope you find moments to take off the mask, exhale fully, and come home to your most unfiltered self.
You are already enough.
With love,
Adriana