Rediscover Your Authentic Self
Many people enter therapy hoping to rediscover their authentic self. However, they very rarely state their goal in those terms. Instead, they present with concerns such as:
“What happened to me?”
“I feel lost.”
“Who am I?”
“I am a bad person.”
It is my job as a therapist to help those individuals rediscover their authentic self. Regardless of how far they have wandered, I am certain it is possible.
This blog post is written as a little nudge, because we all get lost sometimes. But the world needs you to rediscover your authentic self.
How You Lost Your Authentic Self
We are all born good. We are born with good intentions, a desire to love and grow, and a need to connect with others. It is natural to strive for healthy relationships, including the relationship we have with ourselves.
However, that version of us may become lost over time. It does not mean that part of us does not exist; it is simply hidden.
Imagine that when we are born, a pure white light surrounds us. It allows others to see our genuine, loving souls. It also allows us to look out into the world and see the love and light in others.
But as we grow and face hardship, trauma, and pain our light dims. Our light may even collect debris. It can become dark and cloudy. Through this light, it is impossible to look out and see anything but darkness. Likewise, our light is also hidden from others.
Pain and grief may force us to temporarily close off from the world. As a result, we may choose to shut down to protect ourselves from any more hurt, betrayal, loss, or heartache. But in doing so, we also close ourselves off from the opportunity to connect with others, love and be loved, and develop intimate relationships.
How to Rediscover Your Authentic Self
In order to rediscover our authentic selves, we need to return the beginning. We need to clear away the clutter in order to truly show up in the world as our authentic, loving, compassionate selves.
We all have unique and worthy gifts to offer the world. It is our job to make sure that those gifts are shared.
Olivia Schnur
We begin to clear the clutter around our light when we start to heal from the pain, trauma, and heartache that created darkness in the first place. For some, that may look like meeting with a therapist. For others, that may look like speaking with friends and family. It may even involve forgiving the people that hurt us, even if that forgiveness it never spoken directly to them.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing. But for all of us, it means seeking to become the best versions of ourselves. It also means honoring our light, recognizing our worth, and believing in our innate ability to love, heal, and grow.
Meditation for Rediscovering Your Authentic Self (PDF)
This guided meditation is just that… a guide. Please make certain that you in a place where you can safely close your eyes and relax while envisioning this scenario. Additionally, it may be helpful to record yourself, or ask a friend to read it aloud to you as you meditate.
Becoming Your Authentic Self
It takes time to undo the conditioning of the world. Please honor that it took years for you to get where you are. Therefore, it will take time to return to your true self.
However, you get to choose how you operate in the world each day. If you suffer from unconscious conditioning that gets in the way of that, consider seeking guides, like a friend or therapist, to help you along the way.
Remember: You were born good. You are good. Furthermore, I believe we are all born to create more good in this world.
About the Author
Olivia Lynn Schnur is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT-200), and Writer. She writes to educate, inspire, and uplift readers. Learn more at oliviaschnur.com.
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