Life has it's way of challenging us to look deeper at our whole self. We peek inside and sometimes we wonder "what's really going on?". For some of us, it's constantly meeting everyone's needs. For others, it's worrying about keeping people happy. For the rest of us, it's a constant battle to win the approval of others. It may not be just one, it could be a little of all three.

I will admit that I have been all three of these people and the absolute worst ended up happening. I lost myself. Over time, I gradually lost interest in things I loved before. My firm belief's and values I once had were shaken to the core. I wasn't sure what I believed in anymore. I set aside all personal inner desires, dreams and simple joys that used to surround me daily. I lost all courage to be myself and release the true person hidden inside.

After being pressed on all sides by a series of unexpected life situations, I began to examine myself more deeply. This ugly truth was revealed to me and I had no idea what to do or where to begin on the road to recovery. Through one step at a time, I began to ask myself questions like "What do you like?" and "What makes your heart sing?". It took a very long time before I was truthfully able to answer these questions about anything. The first answer that popped into my head was always about what someone else liked, therefore I must like it too. Especially if it meant they would love me more or like me better.

I remember going into a clothing store and staring at all the clothes with money in hand determined to take a step toward updating my wardrobe and my self-esteem. I think I did this at least six times, walking out without buying a thing. This only lowered my confidence even further realizing that I couldn't handle a simple task that most women could handle with ease. It only encouraged me to go down the path of negative thoughts and wonder "What's wrong with me?".

The day I finally realized that my life is now and that I can't base my own happiness on other people or life circumstances, I began to pick up the pieces of my own self and move forward. I started being true to myself and not holding back. My own personality was able to shine through while disregarding what other people might think. Character was restored and I began to spread my wings and fly. Freedom, that is authenticity. I love being me and I see every day as a wonderful gift to unwrap.

Being true to yourself is a way of taking care of yourself so that you can take care of others better. It's not being selfish, it's celebrating who you are and gaining strength to handle life's challenges. If your world is being rocked right now, I highly recommend that you keep a journal, ask yourself important questions, discover your strengths and celebrate every small accomplishment.

A book I highly recommend is Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Her website can be found here.