Authenticity

I was asked for an interview: Is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?

It took me a moment to search through the thoughts that came to my mind.

As a scuba diving instructor trainer, I often ask my candidates to think of a teacher, coach, relative… that they look up to and think that they are great leaders.

Next, I ask them to describe the person. Then I start writing the list on the whiteboard: kind, smart, strong, knowledgeable, well travelled, open minded, interesting, authentic…

Next, we categorize these attributes into three groups. Is it a skill, knowledge or attitude?

Over and over, in every training I host, we conclude the same result. What makes a great teacher / leader is attitude. Skill and knowledge you can acquire, but your attitude is what defines you as a person.

And your attitude really starts with your relationship with your self.

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." Ralph Waldo Emerson

What do YOU think of YOURSELF? What are you saying about who you are on a daily basis?

You are your own biggest critic and the co-creator of your own life.  With that freedom, you have the immense power to decide who you are and who you’d like to become. Trying to please EVERYONE is a recipe for stress, misery and frustration. Be yourself, be real. It'll be good to know who is down with that.

Our thoughts and words have crafted our present and are currently crafting our future. They affect us and others directly and publicly.  If we’d like to see real change in our life as well as success in our endeavors, we must learn to re-program our thoughts and keep them real and positive – especially the thoughts about ourselves!

Authenticity, acceptance, especially self-acceptance doesn’t mean not to strive to be greater. But it is rather a state when you realize that you are comfortable in your own skin. Maybe, even happy.

Wanting to fit in with the crowd is a human nature, but it doesn't always serve us. Fitting in doesn't always equal with us being happy.

By accepting yourself right now, as you are, you can and will still strive to grow, go in a direction that fulfills you. You will do things that you are passionate about. You will visit far-a-way places that interest you. You befriend those you find fascinating. 

Being happy is for most of us one of the key aims in life. But where we often go wrong is in figuring out which path to take to achieve that happiness.

My own path has been a somewhat unconventional one. In my last year at college, most of my peers were busy applying for full-time jobs with large companies, but I knew that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to see the world, which was met with disapproval and skepticism by many.

My friends and family were always skeptical when I shared my visions and dreams about traveling the world and making a living of my passions: scuba diving and creating jewelry. I didn’t want to end up like most people around me. They also had amazing dreams and visions, but ended up living in “reality.”

I did not want my potentials and opportunities pass me by. My source desire is to be happy in my own skin. I believe that living out our dreams is the key to long lasting happiness. And at the end of the day, we all want to live happy – even during a pandemic.

Excited, and somewhat scared, I set off alone on my travels. I have been traveling and making a living of my passions ever since. I am a professional scuba diver, stunt women and inspirational jewelry designer. Gogh Jewelry Design is a reflection of free will.

You can never quit. Winners never quit, and quitters never win.

Wear these friendly reminders every day you need a little push to get up make your dreams reality.

Work hard and remember: If it was easy... Everybody could do it. 

Believe that there is nothing that you can't accomplish if you put your mind and heart to it. 

So for the month of July, I prepared you tools to practice Authenticity as part of the Compassionate Living Membership.

Stay strong, stay positive!

Love, Szilvia