Do you ever feel like you are living in some else’s skin? Do you find yourself looking outside yourself “should-ing” on yourself while seeking approval and recognition or even comparing yourself to others? Do you long for a true expression of your authentic self, but just don’t know the first step to take? Living from a place of non-authenticity is like wearing some else’s jeans…it’s just doesn’t fit and it’s totally uncomfortable. It may seem like a foreign language to you in this moment, but authentic living is actually very easy and natural when unfolded from the inside out.
It is much like the balance we find in nature. A flower blossoms from a small seed that grows from the inside out. You can clearly see this pattern when looking at the center of a flower noticing each petal naturally expressing outward from the very center of the flower. It is the same within our cells. Information flows from the interior wall of a cell outward. As Joan King shares in her book, The Code of Authentic Living Cellular Wisdom, “The principle underlying this pattern -that guidance originates from the center – can be seen everywhere in the body.” She further shares with us that this pattern of guidance moving from the inside out is the secret for living a happier and more fulfilling life.
We have all experienced those moments in our lives when we seem paralyzed by fear of what someone else might think, how a person may respond or even comparing ourselves to others wondering if we are good enough. Looking at outside stimuli to form our inner values, needs and expression leads to conflict in our brain, dis-ease in the body, and imbalance in our spirit because it is just not natural. It’s like swimming upstream creating unnecessary conflict for ourselves.
Well, the time to begin living authentically from the inside out is NOW and it’s easier than you may think. It actually doesn’t take much actual thought at all to live authentically, but does take living in the present moment of NOW and tuning into our innate inner wisdom. The good news is that it takes just a moment to begin laying down the pathways to live your life from a place of authentic expression. Here are some tools to be used as guidelines to get started in this very moment.
Tools for Living Authentically from the Inside Out:
1) Breathe into the NOW:
Practice living in each moment from a state of relaxed resilience. In other words, live each moment with an attitude of being efficiently laid back. Becoming aware of our breath is a wonderful tool to take us into the present moment relaxed state. Notice right now if your breath is shallow and fast paced or if it is calm and deep. Take a deep breath into the sensations of this moment, exhale out any tension in the body or resistance to the moment at hand. How do you feel? Being in the NOW resting as awareness is the opposite of forcing or predicting what will happen next. It is not moving from that space of looking outside ourselves to respond, manipulate or react to the moment. It is allowing our breath to take us into each moment in playful exploration. It is a practice of moving from our inner wisdom out into the world. You will be surprised what you will find in these moments of NOW that we otherwise would have just trampled over in our quest to accomplish the next task at hand.
2) Listen to your Body Language:
The language of our inner wisdom is a simple innate knowing that often is not expressed through our cognitive mind in the form of words. It usually comes to us in somatic experiences through the sensations of our body. How many times has your body said YES! and your mind talked you out of it? Take time to tune into the knowing of your body’s wisdom practicing truly listening to your inner knowing and move out in the world from that knowing with confidence. Take 30 to 60 seconds daily to listen to the language of your heart. It may come in words, but often times the heart expresses itself in deep rooted sensations in the body.
3) Move from the Inside Out:
As you move through life, practice moving from your inner core muscles with the spine in mind. The spine is at the center of our being connecting us to our blood vessels, muscles, nerves, facia, and connective tissues. Our spine is supported by our core muscles. If you think of your spine and these core muscles as the hub of the wheel of your physical body and begin moving from the core of your being out into the periphery of your arms and legs, you will experience and harness your full strength. This in turn will empower you in the moment to tap into the wealth of wisdom within rather than seeking guidance from without. This will also help to reduce pain, tension and resistance in the physical body because you are moving in the world from a place of authenticity.
4) Trust Your Self:
Take little steps at a time to create a big shift in the practice of living authentically from the inside out. Less is more, so little moments really make the most impact. Trust the information you are receiving from the inside rather than relying on outside stimuli. By taking it one moment at at time, we begin to understand and trust that each moment is unfolding perfectly and it does not need our control, resistance or force to let it unfold. As you experience the small moments of success, your trust will build in this practice.
5) There is no Right or Wrong:
The best part is that there is no right or wrong way to live authentically and there are no set rules. It needs to simply be true to YOU, so it can’t be wrong. If it feels good in your body and the moment is filled with ease in your mind, you are right on track! Understanding and trusting the knowing of your inner wisdom and living from that place of awareness in each moment is the practice. It’s that simple. Discovering and tapping into your own tools of authentic wisdom and expression will be the most useful, so feel free to add tools that resonate with you to your toolbox!
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr. Seuss wisdom
Shanti Medina is a fitness and wellness coach specializing in core integration and stabilization, life’s transitions, empowered healing, and spiritual transformations. Her passion lies in creating and celebrating community while inspiring her clients and students to move from a strong, balanced core in all aspects of their lives. Shanti humbly holds the certifications of Reiki Master/Teacher, Advanced Pranic Healer, American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach, Yoga and Pilates instructor, and Advanced Sports Nutritionist. She infuses the wisdom of these teachings to guide her students and clients into a unique somatic journey of discovery, observation and play to live by her tag line: Don’t Just Exercise, Energize™.You can find out more about Shanti by visiting her website at EnergizeShanti.com or becoming part of her Energize facebook community at: EnergizeShanti .
Share with a friend
