line up with yourself

This is the third in a series of messages about making a change in your life. I’ve been focusing on career and job changes, but these ideas can be applied to other kinds of change, too.

In when you’re bored with what you do, I talked about the importance of being with your feelings…even uncomfortable feelings like boredom, disappointment, and discouragement. Until you accept the truth of your feelings, it will be difficult to take the next step toward change.

In that same email, I encouraged you to line up with the truth of this moment. Let’s spend some more time with this idea.

When you know what lining up with yourself feels like, decisions will come easier, and the change you make will feel authentic and effective.

By line up with yourself I mean identify what is true for you in any given moment…and own it.

Each of us has a core truth. You might call it authenticity, or the truth of who you are. My core has certain qualities…for instance, I’m an extroverted introvert, and I’m creative and artistic but have an ability to think analytically. I have preferences and aversions, and I’m attracted to certain principles and ideas.

The core of who you are can be described, but never fully defined. It’s your core - your own distinct truth - that makes you unique.

How do you know you’re aligned with your core truth?

Have you ever made a decision from your gut? When you knew a choice was right for you without needing to analyze or overthink it?

You were probably in touch with your core - the truth of who you are - in that moment.

Have you ever read something or heard someone say something that resonated with you on a deep level? So much so that you felt deeply understood?

That was your core that was being spoken to.

Most of us were never taught about our core truth. We grew up in a system that encouraged certain rules and ways of being. The adults around us wanted to keep us orderly and in line with these rules. We were discouraged from being too visible, too loud, or too much trouble. We were part of a system that encouraged sameness. That system didn’t have the ability or capacity to handle lots of variety.

As humans, we’re highly adaptable. If I’m continuously rewarded for being in sync with the group and punished for being out of sync with the group, I’ll change myself to fit in. Being rewarded feels good, even if being out of alignment with myself doesn’t feel good.

As a young human, I need others to survive. Since I fear being ostracized for not fitting in, I’ll do what’s asked of me. Over time, I adapt to the feeling of pleasing others and I become desensitized to my own core truth.

Is it any surprise that we gradually travel away from our center? Is it a surprise that we feel drained and confused as we scramble to please the people around us? Is it a surprise that we feel disconnected from our own core of truth?

It’s time to take your power back.

I believe that alignment with who you are is the cornerstone to living a happy life.

Lining up with yourself is essential to feeling fulfilled and satisfied with what you do.

It’s the most powerful factor in having a positive impact on the world around you.

Authenticity is powerful. You know it when you see it in other people. And when you line up with yourself, your authenticity will be magnetic to others.

When you line up with yourself, you drop the BS about who you need to be, what other people expect from you, and whether or not you’ll be accepted. You come as you are, and you become visible to the people who need to find you.

I believe that only when you truly line up with yourself can you contribute your unique gifts to the world.

And here’s a bonus: being in alignment with yourself is so much easier than the alternative.

Lining up with yourself gives you energy.

Fighting against yourself so that you can fit in or please others drains your energy.

So you may be wondering, how DO I line up with myself?

That’s a great question! I see it as practice, not a one-time action. You’ve spent a lot of time adapting in order to fit in. It will take time and introspection to fully step into the truth of your being.

When I work with my one-on-one clients, I often ask them to identify qualities about themselves that feel true to who they are. A great way to identify your core qualities is to ask yourself:

What feels true to me?

If I could choose how I want to be, without needing to please anyone else, what would that be?

Naming some core qualities that feel true will help you associate into a deeper state of being. With practice, your own truth will feel more accessible. Eventually, you’ll find it impossible not to line up with yourself.

When you’re bored with what you do…

When you feel out of place with something in your life…

When you find yourself asking, ‘isn’t there more for me?’...

I’ll bet that to some degree, you’ve been neglecting the core truth of who you are. Want to solve that problem once and for all?

Learn who you are, and line up with yourself.

Want to work this through with me one-on-one? Click here to schedule a free 60-minute connection call. And for more juicy life stuff, check out my podcast, coming home (to yourself). As always, may your week be filled with self-love and rich insights. With love, Amy ♡♡♡