A few days ago, I blogged about authenticity and the importance of knowing who you are, what you stand for, and grounding yourself. Then, yesterday, I blogged about connection. These two concepts are intimately related.
How can we truly connect with others if we don’t already connect with ourselves?
If you’ve ever met someone who isn’t genuine or who is disconnected from themselves, it can be very hard to lean in. You often walk away feeling a lack of interest—or even a sense of distrust. What’s unfortunate is that the person probably doesn’t even realize they give off that vibe. Heck, we might give off that vibe ourselves and not even know it.
The truth is, without being authentic in any interaction where we desire a deeper connection, we’ll likely continue to create barriers to the friendship, camaraderie, and love we seek.
No, I’m not saying to be vulnerable with people who aren’t trustworthy or who might use that vulnerability to their advantage. What I am saying is—how do we shift into authenticity when we do want a deeper connection with those we trust or can learn to trust?
Part of it is being grounded in yourself and presenting yourself in a way that personifies who and what you truly are. Be and act as you are. Let me say that again—be yourself.
Engagement is not about getting something, doing something, or providing something. It’s about being in a space with another person who is also being in that space with you.
Perhaps in my next blog, we can unpack:
- How do we decide who we want to practice this with?
- How do we know when to be more authentic, and with whom?
- What does practice look like with another person?
- What happens when others do not receive who we are in a positive way?
Great topics to unpack and reflect on! That will be our journey in the next few posts.