Being your authentic self is crucial to your development. How you go about it is individual but necessary. This is a step-by-step process and it will unfold at your pace.
Steps to becoming your authentic self
First step is acknowledgement of the fact that it’s time to come into your own and ask the Universe to help. Say it out loud and accept in your own mind that you're ready to change.
Don’t get too much into your own head. The initial reaction is to try to control everything or have expectations of how it should happen. Go back to step one then. Look at what you want to change, acknowledge it’s time to change and remind yourself that the more you practice getting out of your own way the faster the process happens.
Take baby steps. This will make change much less overwhelming. It’s not uncommon to throw yourself off by seeing the end-game and worrying about how you’re going to get there. Just envision the end game but allow the process to unfold as you’re ready. You won’t get there immediately so just take it one step at a time. It will get easier as you go along.
Take rests. It can be tiring and, at times, overwhelming so allow yourself times to just stop and take a nap. Take a vacation or just sit in front of the television or with a really enjoyable novel and give yourself a break...just remember though that this is a break and not a permanent stop. Once you start the process you won’t want to sit still for too long!
Keep up the process. You’ll find at this point that you have changed more than you think. You are enjoying yourself more. Feeling more comfortable in your own skin. Expressing your own true deep-felt opinions and it feels good! People are listening to you differently, reacting to you differently. You are attracting people to you that are also on the journey and...be prepared...some people might drop off if they are not on the same path so send them love. They will start their own journey when they are ready but where they are is okay and let them go with your blessing and allow them the freedom to be their authentic selves in their own time.
Love yourself even as you stumble, and you will. Being human means not being “perfect” all the time but that is the reason you are here. To remember who you are so instead of beating yourself up when you find yourself stumbling, being that judgmental person you thought you left behind or thinking less than loving thoughts just allow that you are still evolving. Let yourself feel those feelings without judging yourself. Admit when you do something wrong. Make amends to others or to yourself when appropriate and continue to move forward.
You can do this! It’s the process that’s important and remember...when you finally get to your destination you’ll probably be aware of the next level of evolution when you realize that it will never truly end. So enjoy the ride! Love yourself through it. It’s all about the journey and not the finish line because there is no finish line! Have fun along the way. Don’t take yourself too seriously. We are all in this together and when you look around you’ll realize that the process itself, just like you, is perfect!