“So many of us are living inauthentically. We hide our truths, because we’re fearful of how ‘they’ will react. But often in doing so, we end up hiding our best parts.” — Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

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What if your destiny is tied to your honesty? What if it’s part of your journey to be increasingly authentic?

I know for me, it seems that’s a huge part of my mission. It seems that various events that I wouldn’t have chosen, and moments along the way, are constantly causing me to peel back the layers and reveal my truth.

It’s so weird how no matter how “grown” we are, there are parts of us that we don’t want people to know. Even if we don’t want to be, we’re afraid of what they’ll think.

Depending on our upbringing, we may have been packed to the hilt with shame, so we spend a good portion of our adult life still hiding, then gradually releasing that.

Even though I’m grown, I’d feel horrible if I accidentally cussed in front of my parents. While others have been cussing in front of their parents since they were kids. One’s journey toward authenticity might look different from another’s.

Some people hide things that I was taught to be proud of. There’s somebody who could never tell their family that they went to college, while another person wants everyone to know. I remember when I first went away to school to get my masters in counseling, my intention was to return so that I could support youth at my church. As I interacted with the children, many who had upbringings so different from mine, I just couldn’t process how to support them. For example, having grown up in a household where attending church on Sundays was mandatory, I had no idea how to relate to children who snuck out their house to go to church. They idea that their parents would be angry that they went to church was baffling. But everybody’s experience is different.

The older I get the more interactions, the more I realize that everybody’s experience is different. Even people who grew up in the same household often have very different memories of what life was like. And whether it’s cultural or just familial these differences impact the way we present ourselves to the world, and the ways we hide.

A huge part of my personal growth journey has centered around authenticity. I was tired of living a “double life.” I wanted to just be one person and not have to worry about being this way around these people and that way around other people. I wanted to be one person, but it felt really hard. So I’ve given myself the grace to make my transition gradual.

Well, today, I bumped up against one of my truths. And I struggled with being authentic. I share about it today on the podcast.

If you have struggled with being your authentic self, I highly recommend that you check this out. It’s fun and funny and deep and all the things. Enjoy!

Listen here or above:
Day 11 “Hiding Our Best Parts” #IAMtheONE Share & Let’s Live! #Podcast Series w/ Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist
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Blessings,

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

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On my Share & Let’s Live! podcast, I share tips and tools that are transforming my life and mindset every single day. If you appreciate this FREE daily podcast (and are able), please send me a $5 matcha or purchase a membership to support. (If you’re unable, please know I understand.) Thank you so much for being here!

Learn more about me, Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist, here.