Mornin' and peace to you, all!
My manager (at work) is very keen on personal as well as professional development and so at least twice a year she and her team (8, including me) attend various seminars, workshops, etc. (we also do "retreats", the last one of which was all of us attending a cooking class (pauldingco.com) together - it was a fabulous experience!). The last workshop series we did was based on the book
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry, Ph.D. It was a 2-part series where you first read the book and then take a test, then you print out your results to discuss at the second part. No one had to discuss their results if they didn't want to but did have to share as to what their results "did" for them (i.e., did it reveal anything they didn't know, were the results helpful, did they agree/disagree with the results, etc.). Some who shared their results (I did not) did so because they wanted to know what others thought and were quite surprised when others said, "Oh, yeah, that's you, alright!" and then explained why they felt that way, resulting in the person(s) going, "Oh, wait - yeah, I can see that now!"
I enjoyed the series (it was fun) although the entire team did not share the sentiment (some folks just don't like work-related trainings, seminars, etc., as they take away from "actual" work time - personally, I love the breaks/"change of scenery" while still being paid - LOL!); others didn't like the intimacy of the series and/or what was revealed (ah, well, I mean, I'm not entirely sure one should put 100% faith in the results of these "tests"... or maybe perhaps just consider them
tiny "mirrors" to help see what [might] need to be addressed. I digress.).
As a result of participating in the series, however, I now get weekly emails though the professional networking website
Linked In (which some of you may be familiar with due to your jobs) that include links to Dr. Bradbury's website where he posts topics designed to assist with professional development. These often touch on topics that address personal development, as well, though. Most are pretty good/accurate - I've only come across one where I was like, "Ummmm, I'm not SO sure I (can) agree with that," and commented so. I can't remember the topic but for me, his position was
way too generalized.
Be that as it may, the one I received last week was most interesting. I was directed by my Lord to share it with immediate family and so I did. I was also directed to share it with you all, but... well, I dunno. I was concerned that some might take it the wrong way and be offended. Of course, this left me feeling uneasy all week because I hadn't immediately obeyed. This morning, however, I was directed again to share it with you all, and so am doing so as I want to complete this "assignment." I think, if you can allow your heart to receive it, the information will prove quite beneficial.
You can access the article through the link below but I have been directed to post the article itself (just in case the link doesn't work, someone's computer is having "issues" today, or whatever?) so I will do so. The title of the article is "
Unmistakable Habits of Utterly Authentic People" and so, because it includes a couple of interesting (and perhaps motivating) quotes, I have posted it in this section (because it isn't really "faith"-based, etc.). Now, then:
Quote:
Unmistakable Habits of Utterly Authentic People
Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” Wilde made it sound so simple, but living with authenticity is a real challenge.
To live authentically, you must own your actions and ensure that they align with your beliefs and needs. This can be a difficult thing to maintain when external forces pressure you to do something you’re not comfortable with or to be someone you’re not.
Most people have experienced the discomfort that comes with failing to behave authentically. Researchers from Harvard, Columbia, and Northwestern joined forces to measure this phenomenon scientifically. They found that when people failed to behave authentically, they experienced a heightened state of discomfort that’s usually associated with immorality. People who weren’t true to themselves were so distraught that they felt a strong desire to cleanse themselves physically.
It’s clear that our brains know when we’re living a lie, and like all lies, being inauthentic causes nothing but harm. But how do you start living authentically? That can be tough, especially if you’ve been playing a role for most of your adult life.
“I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I’ve become. If I had, I’d have done it a lot earlier.” – Oprah Winfrey
Authentic people are deeply in tune with who they are and what they want. Their ability to live their life in harmony with their true selves comes from some clearly discernible habits that any of us can study and incorporate into our repertoire.
They help others to be their authentic selves. Authentic people don’t expect others to play a role either. They don’t make people feel as though they have to fit into a certain mold or to project a certain image to be a part of their lives. Their commitment to being authentic gives other people the freedom to live authentically too.
They let go of negative people. Authentic people have too much self-respect to put up with people who treat them badly or have ill will toward them, and they have too much respect for other people to try to change them. So they let go—not out of anger, but out of their need to be true to themselves.
They express their true feelings and opinions, even when they’re not popular. Authentic people don’t live a go-along-to-get-along lifestyle. They’re simply not capable of acting in a way that’s contrary to what their principles dictate, even if there are repercussions. They prefer not to lie to other people, and they especially can’t lie to themselves. This means that they’re willing to live with the repercussions of staying true to themselves.
They are confident. Much social anxiety stems from the fear we have of being “found out.” We’re afraid that somebody is going to discover that we’re not as smart, experienced, or well-connected as we pretend to be. Authentic people don’t have that fear. Their confidence comes from the fact that they have nothing to hide. Who they appear to be is who they really are.
They prefer deep conversations to meaningless chatter. Eleanor Roosevelt nailed this one. She once said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” You won’t find authentic people gossiping about others or giving their opinions on the latest celebrity scandals. They know all of that stuff is nothing more than cultural trappings, and they choose to talk about things that matter.
They don’t take anyone’s advice without evaluating it carefully first. It’s not that authentic people aren’t willing to take advice; they are. But they don’t put that advice into action just because other people have. First, they’ll run it through the wringer from a critical perspective so that they can be sure it makes sense for them.
They don’t complain about their problems. Complaining is what you do when you think that the situation you’re in is someone else’s fault or that it’s someone else’s job to fix it. Authentic people, on the other hand, are accountable. They understand that they—and no one else—are responsible for their own lives, so there’s no point in complaining.
They’re internally motivated. Authentic people don’t sit at their desks thinking, “Well, if my boss would just make this job worthwhile, I’d do a better job.” The carrot-and-stick approach just isn’t relevant to them. They’re motivated from within.
They make the best out of any situation. Authentic people have a very firm grasp on reality. When things don’t go their way, they don’t get trapped in denial, and they don’t sit around whining about how things should be different. They simply take stock of the way things are and, if there’s nothing they can do to change the situation, they figure out a way to make the best of it.
They don’t get stressed or upset when someone doesn’t like them. It’s never fun accepting that someone doesn’t like you, but a lot of times that discomfort comes from trying to figure out what you did wrong or how you can fix it. Authentic people don’t have that anxiety because they would never try to change themselves to influence someone else’s opinion. They accept that other people have a right to be authentic about their own feelings, even if those feelings are negative toward them.
Bringing It All Together
Living authentically is a perpetual challenge that yields great rewards. It’s a noble path that you won’t regret following.
You can read the article and more about the author here:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unmistak ... -bradberry As always, peace to you all... and to your dear households!
YSSFS of Christ,
Shel