Inherent Inspiration Pre-Requisite: Acting in Honor of Our True Selves

Inspiration is the most radiant and flourishing expression of our authenticity. Because inspiration is deeply personal, we honor our true selves through the simple act of being inspired.

If we aren’t connected to our true selves for any reason, we can be superficially happy about a lot of things. We can even be happy about things that make others happy.

While superficial happiness may seem good enough, it keeps our true selves at bay. It reinforces that we think we aren’t worthy of enjoying deep and meaningful happiness because we don’t feel we’re good enough to show or share our true selves. When we choose to act in a way that does not honor our true selves, we are letting ourselves believe that someone can better live our lives for us. The more we allow it, the more we believe it.

Alice Miller, from her book, The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self, mentions the “tragic and painful state of being separated from his true self, to which doctors refer offhandedly as depression.” Denying our true selves is a common cause of depression and unhappiness; inspiration can provide opportunities to accept and share our true selves.

The most important needs of our internal human experience are to be seen, loved and accepted for our truest, most authentic selves. In order to experience these, we must honor and share our true selves to experience the purest form of these basic human needs.

When we are young, we seek approval from our parents. We compromise our integrity to fit in with new friends. We seek these needs in the easiest way we know how, which often results in temporary and superficial happiness.

Much like settling for happiness, when we settle for love and acceptance that is based on conforming or manipulating ourselves, it further disconnects us from our true selves and reinforces that we should continue to hide who we really are.

As children, the common desires to be seen, loved and accepted can train us to sacrifice ourselves to obtain them. As adults, it’s our job to course-correct to be seen for who we truly are in order to experience true love, true acceptance and, ultimately, true happiness.

The journey isn’t always easy, but inspiration is the quickest shortcut to discovering and practicing embracing our authentic selves.

Want more inspiration? Happiness is Overrated - Live the Inspired Life is your friend along your journey to living your happiest life through inspiration!