InCouragements Insight

Share

InCouragements Insight - Your Authentic Self

Authentic - not false or copied; genuine; real

The other day I was talking to one of my daughter's teachers, and as we ended the conversation, she says to me and I quote "Ms. Bridges you are authentic, and it makes it a pleasure to talk to you". I was in shock and speechless when she said this, because coming from a very intelligent woman who I actually admire, it was good to hear that she thought of me that way.

When I got off the phone with her, I continued to think of the things she said and especially the word authentic. This world is full of so many fake, and false things and people who are the same way, that it is a rarity to meet real people. I have been told I'm real and trustworthy before but authentic is something different.

The more and more I thought about this word, I wonder how many of us walk around really pretending, we pretend we are happy, we pretend we like people, we pretend we have good relationships, we pretend we have a relationship with God, in essence we are just pretenders. Being a pretender or false takes a lot of work, because you are constantly having to remember what you are trying to pretend to be and keep on a face.

I used to pretend that I was loved, and thought about from others, but the reality was that I was rejected constantly by men and people I wanted to be my friends. So, when I established a relationship with God, he showed me real love and how to be my real self. My real self was being an encourager, doing for others, and embracing others, by showing them love. As I have done this over the years, I am not always accepted, people still reject me at times, people are back and forth with me as if they are still trying to decide if they want to be friends with me, and I don't always receive the authentic person from these people. Instead of feeling rejected and left out I continue to do what I was created to do and that is to be my Authentic Self, and as human I still feel hurt by these actions, but I now know the problem is not always me.

So, I say to you today start today being the "Authentic" you, if you are already well good for you. But remember by being your Authentic Self you also representing you and God. The other thing she told me and I have heard lately from others is that I had such a spiritual side to me that made them want to seek after whatever I believed in. One person told me I had a light that was so attractive to others. I'm not saying these things to build me up, what I am trying to say is we reach people by being our authentic Self.

The comments I heard from others were that I was approachable, always trying to help others, and always available to listen. One person said people nowadays have attitudes, where you look at them and are scared to approach them, they don't offer their selves. The other day I was in a meeting at my job with a lady that I have known for quite sometime now, after the meeting she just started talking to me about personal things that were going on in her life. After she finish talking she said I know this seems strange but I felt you would listen, becasue you always have this smile on your face and it seems genuine. Remember Jesus reached out to the people as he walked city to city and he allowed the people to touch him. Jesus was approachable because he was Authentic.

So I say this today, stop being absorbed with your self and your stuff, stop being mean, and unapproachable. If you are a child of God there is this light about you that others attract to, and want to be a part of. Learn to let others in besides your clique of people you prefer, you never know what that might need from you. I do know that they need your AUTHENTIC SELF!!!!


Be InCouraged
Mechell