Where to Begin?

Posted byauthenticbeingPosted inUncategorized

My friend and therapist used to begin our sessions with a most meaningful expression… “Where to begin?”

I decided that was a perfectly fixing way to begin my blog.  So, after hours of thinking about what to say, what not to say, what..what ..what.  I decided.. JUST BEGIN!

So here I am at the beginning…

The very first time I remember hearing the word Authentic was in my 7th grade history class.  We had it as a vocabulary word about the ‘real’ art pieces.  I looked it up in the dictionary and saw so many definitions.  The Webster defined it as:

1.obsolete:authoritative
2. worthy of acceptance or belief as conforming to or based on fact <paints an authentic picture of our society>b: conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features <an authentic reproduction of a colonial farmhouse>c: made or done the same way as an original <authenticMexican fare>
3. not false or imitation:real, actual <an authentic cockney accent>
4.aof a church mode: ranging upward from the keynote — compare plagal 1bof a cadence: progressing from the dominant chord to thetonic — compare plagal 2
5. true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character
Being one of those “touchy, feeling kids” , I was more struck by the 5th definition than the ones relating to artifacts of historical accuracy.  I thought about what was my ‘real’ self.  Did it exist? Was I a fake? Did I live out of obligation of all the expectations of others.   Of course, boys, sports and other interests soon took over.  I tucked these thoughts away for a few years more!
Much later, I came upon a poem by Virginia Satir.  Her words resonated!  Her poems encouraged and motivated me to breathe deeper into my own nature.  I felt comforted.  There was such great potential locked within all of us.  I hope these words inspire you too!
I am Me
In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me Everything that comes out of me is authentically me Because I alone chose it I own everything about me

My body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions,
Whether they be to others or to myself – I own my fantasies,
My dreams, my hopes, my fears – I own all my triumphs and
Successes, all my failures and mistakes

Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me – by so doing
I can love me and be friendly with me in all my parts – I know
There are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other
Aspects that I do not know – but as long as I am
Friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously
And hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles
And for ways to find out more about me
However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever
I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically
Me – If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought
And felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is
Unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that
Which I discarded – I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do

I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be
Productive to make sense and order out of the world of
People and things outside of me – I own me, and
therefore I can engineer me – I am me and I AM OKAY

Poem by Virginia Satir


For more information on her life and work.  http://www.avanta.net/

Published by authenticbeing

I am a trained Integrative Coach Professional with the Ford Institute. I have been mentor with Lumen Worldwide. I offer several styles of coaching, uniquely tailored to meet your needs. I love sailing, exploring nature, writing and art. My passion is service. If you are interested in using me as a life-coach, feel free to contact me through my email. authenticbeingcoach@gmail.com. I offer a complimentary sample session. On Skype please indicate that you have read my blog to connect to me. Call me at 765-729-8386. take good care, Lo

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