"Sometimes the fear of finding out who we really are, underneath all our masks and defenses, causes us to resist being authentic."-Neil Clark Warren, Finding Contentment.

One of the most freeing things a person can do is to live according to their core values. Whether in the workplace or at home, when we live authentically, we will find more ease in priority setting and communication, as well as experience less stress and internal conflict in our lives. Unfortunately, most of us have never consciously worked with our values to achieve authenticity. Those who know what they value may not have thought about how their lives line up with their values.

Living authentically requires a commitment to our core values--those 3-5 beliefs or convictions worth so much to us that we cannot live without them. Core values are the reasons we do what we do...our "habits of the heart". When our lives are out of alignment with our values or when we live according to a value imposed upon us by someone else, we experience stress, frustration and discontentment. On the contrary, authentic living produces peace and fulfillment.

Do you know who you truly are? If you know, are you living and leading accordingly? Commit to knowing yourself better so you can experience the benefits of living authentically. Keep in mind that it takes a lot of courage to pursue this endeavor because some people in your life might not like the changes you make. From my personal experience, I found this to be true! I'm glad I had the support of my coach!

If you would like to try a quick exercise regarding values, check out this freebie at Gary Collins' website to help you identify your values. If you would like to set up a complimentary consultation with me to talk further about the process, please feel free to contact me.