Free To Be Fully Yourself In 2010

Anne Naylor Personal motivation consultant and author,  HuffingtonPost.com

A New Year, a new decade has arrived, bringing perhaps a fresh start. Are you being true to yourself, doing what gives you joy and satisfaction? Are you content with the way your life is going? Or do you feel there may be something missing that you would now like to find?

The turn of a decade may prompt you to change. A simple change of routine can give you a new perspective: finding new ways of going to work; daring yourself to sing, dance or play a musical instrument, when you never thought you could; putting your left leg into your pants first instead of the right, or vice versa. I did that this morning and it felt really weird.

It may take a dramatic turn of events – like job loss, divorce, ill-health – before you get nudged out of a role you had assumed and into being truly happy in your own skin, doing what you most love to do and finding new joy through it. I have observed that people who “retire” often take up a vocation that is closer to their hearts, and reach a peak of life fulfilment, sometimes greater financial success, in their 70’s.

What does it take to be free to be fully yourself? You might risk the disapproval of those you know, but win new friends. You might give up looking through a glass darkly, seeing how wrong things may be, and find the beauty in simple events around you. You may focus on, and appreciate, your strengths and qualities, and stop criticizing your faults and weaknesses. You might take yourself less seriously, and have a good laugh when you do something stupid. You might stop trying to live up to impossible expectations of yourself, and breathe a welcome sigh of relief. You might come to see the world as a friendly place that forgives your mistakes, and welcomes your triumphs with open arms and congratulations.

Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will
and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom…
The power to choose, to respond, to change.
Stephen Covey

You see, I believe we may have much more freedom than we generally realize. As creatures of habit, we tend to get locked in to beliefs, expectations and patterns of behaviour that limit our freedom. How could you be more free? What would it take? And would it be worth it?

Watch how Ricochet changes her career direction for greater meaning, purpose and fun.

5 Keys To Getting Free To Be Yourself

1. Love

Love yourself. Love your enemies. Love your mistakes. Love your way through your challenges. Love is the liberator.

Love does not claim possession, but gives freedom.
Rabindranath Tagore

2. Let go

Surrender the need to be in control. It has been said that control is the master addiction. Addictions trap you in false expectations.

Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom.
Hannah Arendt

3. Discipline

Eliminate the negative – thinking and projecting worst case scenarios. Accentuate the positive – focus on the beauty, joy and peace, in and around you; what it is you want to experience more.

Freedom is from within.
Frank Lloyd Wright

4. Stand tall

Literally. With both feet on the ground. Your head held high. Breathe in deeply. Breathe out any limitations, restrictions, fears, doubts, feelings of being less than who you truly are – a remarkable being, living in an astonishing world at this time.

Freedom lies in being bold.
Robert Frost

5. Act

Take your first step to gaining greater freedom. Give yourself permission to be fully who you truly are, honouring your unique gifts, talents, strengths and abilities. Communicate your intention to those who are important to you. Invite their support.

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains,
but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
Nelson Mandela

How could you enjoy greater freedom in your life? Who do you know who inspires you as a “free spirit”? Who are your role models for freedom, and why?

There is nothing wrong with America that faith, love of freedom, intelligence,
and energy of her citizens cannot cure.
Dwight D Eisenhower