Quotes About Authenticity

denial of emotion is what feeds the dark.

we find that what we regret most are our failures of courage, whether it's the courage to be kinder, to show up, to say how we feel, to set boundaries, to be good to ourselves, to say yes to something scary.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross: "People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." ? Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

Choosing authenticity means cultivating the courage to be imperfect, to set boundaries, and to allow ourselves to be vulnerable; exercising the compassion that comes from knowing that we are all made of strength and struggle; and nurturing the connection and sense of belonging that can only happen when we believe that we are enough.

Never underestimate the power of being seen—it's exhausting to keep working against yourself when someone truly sees you and loves you.

Belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than us. Because this yearning is so primal, we often try to acquire it by fitting in and by seeking approval, which are not only hollow substitutes for belonging, but often barriers to it. Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.

Have we created a space in our families where our kids know that they belong. Where there are no prerequisites for worthiness, you don't have to hustle here for me to believe you're worthy of loving. You don't have to perform here for me to think that you belong here. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to get a certain grade on your test. You don't have to hit so many home-runs. You belong here.

When we spend our lives waiting until we are perfect or bulletproof before we walk into the arena, we ultimately sacrifice relationships and opportunities that may not be recoverable. We squander our precious time and we turn our backs on our gifts- those unique contributions that only we can make. Perfect and bulletproof are seductive but they don't exist in the human experience.

we know and understand ourselves is critically important, but there is something that is even more essential to living a Wholehearted life: loving ourselves.

The truth is that meaningful change is a process. It can be uncomfortable and is often risky, especially when we're talking about embracing our imperfections, cultivating authenticity, and looking the world in the eye and saying, "I am enough.

Because we are human and so beautifully imperfect

I also see courage in myself when I'm willing to risk being vulnerable and disappointed

How do I know if I can trust someone enough to be vulnerable? Can I build trust without ever risking vulnerability?

worthiness is an absolute act of resistance. Choosing to live and love with our whole hearts is an act of defiance.

We're called to "dare greatly" every time we make choices that challenge the social climate of scarcity.

It also takes discipline and self-awareness to understand what to share and with whom.

They recognize the power of emotion and they're not afraid to lean in to discomfort.

Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it.

Honestly, as someone who rarely risked vulnerability and always steered clear of silly or goofy, it never dawned on me that adults could love each other like that; that I could be loved for my vulnerabilities, not despite them.

I think that's the biggest watch-out with irony and sarcasm: Are you dressing something up in humor that actually requires clarity and honesty?

When we don't practice love with the people we claim to love, it takes a lot out of us. Incongruent living is exhausting.

think of it as the audacity of authenticity. Most of us have shame triggers around being perceived as self-indulgent or self-focused.

It is in the process of embracing our imperfections that we find our truest gifts: courage, compassion, and connection.

Vulnerability paradox: Vulnerability is the the first thing I look for in you and the last thing I want you to see in me.