Showing Up Authentically
Authenticity. Living who you are. We live in a world where often we hide (or cover) parts of ourselves because we don’t know how those aspects of ourselves will be received, if it is safe to share them, or how to share them.
When we think about belonging, it is about belonging to ourselves first – accepted and loving who we each are, and how we show up in the world. The next part of belonging is feeling safe, supported, and welcomed to show up in the spaces and places where we want to be, and knowing that we will belong there.
To live as our authentic selves, we have to be comfortable with who we are – and know that those around us, and the spaces and places where we want and need to be will support bringing all of ourselves. Being authentic also requires courage to show up and to be seen as you are. It requires vulnerability in that uncertainty if you will be welcomed and supported in who you are.
Creating spaces and places where people can be authentic requires compassion to support where they are at, and empathy to understand what is coming up for them, and curiosity to seek to understand who they are and what they need to be successful.
As Ryan shares in their video this month – this has been a journey for them to be able to live their authentic life, and we are so grateful to be part of Ryan’s journey and to learn from them, and to have the opportunity to support them as they embark on this incredible next phase of their life.
What does your authentic life look like? What do you need to support you to get there? What can you do to support those around you to live their authentic life?
-Andrea Carey
Chief INclusion Officer
