Authentically You

Isn’t it wonderful when you are around people with whom you can be completely yourself?  Conversations are fluid, without the usual fears of being judged or having your words taken the wrong way.  Your body feels light, your breath easy – all your barriers are down.

While this is hopefully a frequent occurrence in our lives, it isn’t usually our normal mode of operation.  In the work world, where we want people to believe we are capable and dependable, we don our professional persona.  In the social world, we may want others to view us as interesting or as one of the group, so we don our social, or clique, persona.  In relationships, we want people to see us romantically and as a desirable partner, and thus don our relationship persona.  We likely have even more personas for other situations, especially if they are emotional, like confrontations.  All of this can be exhausting.  And if these personas create a rift between our true selves and our words and/or actions, it causes stress and worry.  Our throat may even constrict as we regret words spoken or unspoken, or decisions made.

Being our authentic selves isn’t always easy.  Not only do we have to stay true to ourselves no matter what is happening around us, we need to do so no matter what is happening within us.  Yet our ego is one of the biggest influencers when it comes to what we do and say.  The very first step in being our authentic self is to accept and love ourselves, putting the ego aside.  Once we have accomplished that, we can take the next step and find the ability to be authentic as we move through the world and its many situations.

You can start this month by setting an intention to do the following:

Take 3-5 minutes each morning to sit, breathe and move before you start the day.  

• Sit on the floor or your mat with your eyes closed.
• First, simply notice your breath.  Let yourself settle into your breath, becoming absorbed in the sound and movement.
• Next, simply appreciate yourself.  Think of the wonderful traits that make you, well, YOU.  This may not be easy at first, so be patient with yourself as you cultivate self-love.
• With each exhale, let go of any judgement or negativity about those traits.
• Lastly, view yourself with love and true affection.  Love and fully embrace all that is you.

Listen to your short yoga nidra recording every other day

Listen to one of your traditional yoga nidra recordings once a week

You will likely be doing other wonderful yoga related work  – going to studio classes, doing the home asana practices, reading the blog posts – but let the list above be your minimum baseline.

Start Meditation

Start Meditation

Use this bedtime yoga nidra to help you gently fall asleep.  It reinforces this month’s theme: finding and using your authentic voice.

The second recording includes soft ambient music.

Start Meditation

Start Meditation with Music

Your Vishuddha, or throat chakra, is tied to your ability to communicate within the world.  Your words originate from your throat, and your neck supports your head when it nods yes or no, making decisions.  When we act or say things that don’t mesh with our true self, we often feel it physically in our throat and shoulders.  When this area is out of balance, it affects our ability to express ourselves and to hear and accept other’s self expressions.

Clearing your Vishuddha chakra can help rid you of this type of unwanted energy.  You can do this in a few ways, but here are two:

1. A Mantra.  Each chakra has a sound, or mantra.  For the throat chakra, it is HAM.  Chanting, or even making this sound mentally, helps clear your throat chakra.
2. Crystals.  The throat chakra is associated with blue, so many of the crystals used to cleanse this area are blue in color.  Try carrying or wearing Amazonite, Angelite, Blue Lace Agate, Aquamarine or Turquoise.

Here’s a nice article on the Vishuddha chakra and what happens when it is over or under active: https://www.color-meanings.com/throat-chakra-the-fifth-chakra/