The Journey Back to Authenticity

Have you ever woken up, looked in the mirror, and thought, I don’t even know who I am anymore?

On the outside, maybe you’ve done everything right. You’ve built a career. You’ve kept up with your responsibilities. You’ve played the roles you thought you were supposed to play. To others, you look put together. People respect you—maybe even admire you.

But inside? There’s a quiet ache. A whisper that asks: Where did I go?

I know that feeling. I’ve lived it. And I want to share something important with you today: the self you think you’ve lost isn’t gone. She’s still inside of you, waiting. When you reconnect with her, life begins to feel whole again.

The Self You Were Before the World Stepped In

Think back to when you were a child—before the pressure to succeed, before the labels, before the rules of how you should act or who you should be. Children live in pure essence. They sing without caring if they’re off key. They dance without worrying if they look silly. They create, imagine, and play with no fear of judgment.

But then, the world begins shaping us. Maybe you were told to be quiet or that your dreams were impractical. Maybe you learned that love and acceptance came only when you performed a certain way—or hid parts of yourself that felt too sensitive, too bold, or too much.

Little by little, you tucked away pieces of your soul in exchange for safety or approval.

Following the Breadcrumbs Back to You

When I asked myself years ago, What lit my heart up when I was younger? the answer surprised me. I realized I loved dancing. As a child, the music played and my body just moved. So, I gave myself permission to try ballroom dancing as an adult.

For the first time in years, I felt alive. My heart was happy, my body was free, and my world began to shift. It wasn’t about proving anything or seeking approval. It was simply about doing something that made me feel like me again.

That’s the magic of reconnecting with what once lit you up—it brings the pieces of your soul back to life.

Taking Off the Masks

Many of us wear masks. The mask of the achiever. The caregiver. The perfectionist. The one who’s always “fine.”

We put these masks on to survive, to be loved, to fit in. But the longer we wear them, the heavier they become. And eventually, we forget who we were underneath.

The truth? You are allowed to take those masks off. You’re allowed to feel your emotions—whether joy, grief, or anger. You’re allowed to stand up for yourself. You’re allowed to be fully expressed.

Three Steps to Reclaiming Yourself

1. Awareness – Begin by noticing where you’ve been living by expectation rather than authenticity. Simply paying attention starts the healing.

2. Compassion – You didn’t lose yourself because you were weak. You hid pieces of yourself to survive. That was wisdom then. But now, you are strong enough to bring those pieces home.

3. Curiosity – Ask the deeper questions: What lights me up? What feels true for me? What would my younger self want me to remember?

Try this: Close your eyes and picture yourself as a child. What are you doing? What joy radiates from you? Walk up to that child and ask, What do you want me to remember? Then listen. The answer is your breadcrumb back to authenticity.

Living Authentically

Living from your true self doesn’t mean abandoning responsibilities. It means aligning your outer world with your inner truth. It means saying no when something drains you, reigniting passions you once loved, and creating a life that reflects who you really are.

Before the world told you who to be, you were already whole, already radiant, already worthy. That self you thought you lost is still here—waiting for you to remember.

So this week, I invite you to take one small step to honor your true self. Say no when you’d usually say yes. Revisit a passion you left behind. Journal with your inner child.

Because every step toward authenticity brings you closer to peace, joy, and freedom. And when you live as who you really are, life itself rises up to meet you.

✨ Who were you before the world told you who to be? And do you have the courage to live as that person again?