You wake up each morning feeling good about yourself, exactly as you are. No more stressing about fitting some impossible mold. Sounds like a thing from a parallel universe, does it? But, it could be “our” world. Yes, you heard that right! That's exactly what Brené Brown talks about in her book, "The Gifts of Imperfection." It's a guidebook for letting go of who you think you’re supposed to be and instead embracing who you truly are. The things we often see as flaws – vulnerabilities, mistakes, even those wobbly bits – are parts of us too, that deserve love. And this thing right here, is you how-to manual. It's gonna teach you to ditch the perfect mask and embrace the real, messy you. And by doing that, you'll unlock the "parallel world" where you have the ability to live with more joy, connection, and authenticity than you ever thought possible.

With that, let’s embark on this journey of courage, kindness, and connection, where we learn to say "I'm enough" and live a wholehearted life, whatever that means for you.

All of us want to live a life on our own terms, to be our true selves without holding back. It is called living "wholeheartedly." 100% authentic! But the road to being authentic can be bumpy. Know why? Because we get caught up in trying to be perfect, not real! Thanks to pressure from society and that voice in our heads telling us we're not good enough. It's like wearing a mask all the time!

It’s “liberating” to feel authentic. We’re sure you’ll agree, right? But what is authenticity, really? To most of us, people are either naturally authentic, or they’re not. But that’s not the case! Authenticity isn't a fixed, inherent trait - it's more like a daily choice we gotta make. Even those who seem naturally authentic are constantly choosing vulnerability over fear. It's a commitment to showing up as our true selves, all of it!

We’ll show you how : that time you really wanted something, maybe a dream job or to nail a creative project. Did you downplay your hopes, telling yourself “it’s probably a long shot” or “maybe I’m not good enough?” That's a common way we try to shield ourselves from disappointment. But here’s the catch: by dimming your own light and playing small, you’re also dimming your authenticity. Point being, choosing authenticity is about showing flaws and vulnerability over the numbing comfort of perfectionism. This vulnerability, what Brené calls "the courage to be seen," allows us to connect with others on a deeper level. 

Also, sharing your real desires helps you connect with people who might have similar dreams and worries. The thing is everyone struggles with rejection . By admitting your own vulnerabilities, you build the courage to be open and honest and share your true self with others who get it makes you feel like you belong. This connection fuels your courage to be even more authentic. And thus, the cycle of developing authenticity goes on, and on and on!

As we said, the idea of “being perfect” can muddy this process. Let’s explore that more!

Do you also have that nagging feeling in your gut, that inexplicable hunch – which you often dismiss as mere "intuition," and prefer logic and reason? But what if intuition has more to it? The battle between intuition and reason is age-old. But new research suggests they're more like partners in crime. Intuition, it turns out, is reason's fast-paced, behind-the-scenes accomplice.

Imagine your brain as a giant filing cabinet. When you encounter something new, your brain goes into overdrive, sifting through those mental files at lightning speed. It pulls out relevant memories, experiences, and knowledge – all unconsciously. This rapid-fire association process culminates in that familiar "gut feeling" that guides your actions.

But, but , but! We humans – we crave guarantee. When faced with a risk, we turn into question machines, grilling ourselves and anyone around – all in a desperate bid for absolute certainty instead of going with the hunch. Spoiler alert: it backfires. Because intuition isn't reason's enemy; it's a more streamlined version, one that embraces the inherent uncertainty of life. It allows us to make decisions without getting bogged down in overthinking.

Now, let's put the lesson in practice. Next time you're faced with a decision, take a moment to check in with your gut. What's it telling you? Practice listening to its subtle cues, even if they don't always align with what seems 'logical.' Over time, you'll build trust in your intuition, and voila! You've learnt to make more authentic choices that align with your true self.

With this being said, the next advice to live an authentic life is by unleashing the creativity within you.

Have you ever stumbled upon a concept so foreign it leaves you feeling completely lost? During her research, Brené talked about people living wholeheartedly "having fun", a phrase that sent her colleague’s brain into a tailspin. "What fun things? Crafts? Sports? Hobbies?" her colleague stammered, desperately trying to decipher this strange code. “It’s play! Nothing organized” Brené realized later after digging around to find a proper word.

Dr. Stuart Brown, a renowned psychiatrist and clinical researcher, argues that play isn't optional. In fact, in his words, “the opposite of play is depression.” Playfulness can even bring back passion to our work. It is the secret ingredient to shaping our brains, fostering empathy, and igniting creativity.

The connection between play and rest will blow your mind. Just like needing sleep, we crave play for our well-being. Yet, isn’t it ironic that our culture worships exhaustion and productivity? We convince ourselves that joy comes from achievements, not from simply... having fun. 

So, here's the countercultural challenge: embrace rest and play! Sit down and create a "joy and meaning" list for your family. Sleep, healthy food, time off, and yes, even "piddling around" – these are the ingredients that truly nourish us.

The choice is in your hands: What would you rather be? A thriving human OR a glorified hamster on a wheel?

And regardless of your choice, anxiety will become an inevitable part of your life. So we need to know how to embrace it authentically. The next section will explain more about it.

We have advice for you: Be anxiety-aware, if not anxiety-free! What’s the difference? Being anxiety-free sounds heaven, but it's not realistic or even necessary. Instead, aim to be anxiety-aware. This means recognizing anxiety when it shows up, understanding its purpose, and not letting it take the driver's seat in your life. Now, we just said being anxiety-free is not necessary. What gives?

Allow us to explain: Imagine you're giving a presentation at work. It's normal to feel some butterflies in your stomach beforehand. That's anxiety rearing in your head, and it can actually be helpful. How exactly? It pushes you to perform well! It keeps you alert and focused. It shows that you care and you’re willing to work. But allowing anxiety to overpower you? That’s the bad thing. Get the point?

How to prevent it? By cultivating calm and stillness, simple! Here’s a “How To?” for the same: 

Calm means managing emotional reactions. So, like instead of snapping at your kids for a spilled drink, you take a beat to understand their side and respond with empathy.

Stillness, on the other hand, as popularly believed, isn’t about achieving some zen state. It is about creating "clearing" within oneself. Imagine a cluttered desk where you can't find your notes. Stillness is about clearing that mental clutter - creating emotionally clutter-free spaces to feel, think, and dream. Perhaps it's a five-minute walk in nature, savoring the breeze instead of checking emails. Maybe it's ten mindful minutes washing the dishes, focusing on the feel of warm water and the scent of soap, instead of letting worries swirl.

It’s easier said than done, we know. In today’s world, our mind has been conditioned to equate stillness with inactivity. So, it rebels against meditation. The path to calm and stillness requires unlearning such ingrained messages. Eventually, anxiety will loosen its grip, and clarity will emerge. You will begin to see the path forward, with a newfound sense of meaning and purpose, thus living wholeheartedly and authentically.

Now, let’s move to the next section where discovering your hidden talents will allow you to bring yourself closer to your true self!

"That's a nice hobby, but when are you going to get a real job?" 

"You're not talented enough. Maybe you should just give up."

"There are already too many out there. You'll never make it."

"Be realistic. That dream is just not practical."

If you live in this world, there’s a very small chance that you haven’t heard these taunts or their versions at some point. The world can be a harsh place, with no place for doing something we genuinely love.

See , we all possess unique gifts and talents. Sharing them with the world imbues our lives with purpose and satisfaction. And , ignoring these unique gifts of ours takes a toll on emotional and physical well-being, leaving us feeling lost, frustrated, and even ashamed. The question to be asked is: Why do we ignore our talents in the first place?

Because it’s a money-driven world. Creating meaningful work often requires commitment and time. So, if your gift does not pay the bills, it’s difficult to enjoy them . We also ignore them because of self-doubt and societal pressures. 

Here’s a trick to overcome self-doubts: Start by acknowledging these doubts. How? Write them down on paper. It will help you strip them of their power and fill you with positive energy to challenge them.

To overcome societal pressure in a world obsessed with work titles, here’s something you can do: Whenever you struggle to define yourselves in a simple sound-bite, adopt Marci Alboher's concept of "slash careers." It challenges the idea of a single, fixed career. It encouraged embracing and integrating our various passions. Proudly say, “I’m a lawyer slash chef!......a preacher/a stand-up comic!”

The final section will deal with how dance, song and laughter can spice up our lives allowing us a chance to embrace our true selves!

Imagine life without laughter, song, and dancing – like a black and white movie with no sound. Pretty boring, right? Well, these things are like magic sprinkles for our lives!

Laughter makes everything funnier, even our own silly mistakes. Songs become our personal soundtrack, to cheer us up, calm us down, or remind us we're awesome. And dancing? It's like being the star of your own musical, shaking off worries and feeling totally free. Embracing laughter, song, and dance isn't just about having fun - it's about letting your authentic self shine through. When we allow ourselves to be silly, vulnerable, and expressive, we're actively rejecting the perfectionism that holds us back from true connection and joy. The question that arises here is why don't we all do it? In our filtered, curated world, there's massive pressure to come across as effortlessly cool. As someone who is carefree and nonchalant. But this nonchalant facade is a barrier to genuine connection! Want to truly bond with others? Unleash your inner, authentic goofball! Show your interest and likes and passions! And laughter, song, and dance are your yellow-brick road to creating these real, messy, beautiful connections.

People have always used laughter, music, and dancing to connect, even before words were cool. Social critic Barbara Ehrenreich calls it "collective ecstasy," that urge to share our joy with others. And we crave these moments even when we're feeling down. A laugh with a friend or singing along to a favorite song can chase away the blues faster than anything!

Dancing might seem scary at first, like showing off your silliest moves in front of everyone. But watch any kid – they naturally move and groove like nobody's watching. We often hold back from dancing because we want to seem "cool" and in control. But being cool can actually stop us from connecting with others and having fun! It makes us judge ourselves and others who let loose and be themselves. And that’s not authentic living!

When Brené’s daughter started dancing in a store, her first thought was to tell her to stop. But then, she joined in! This turned a potentially awkward moment into a fun memory. It shows the power of being yourself, even if it means being a little silly. So crank up the tunes, move your body, and let your heart sing! That’s authentic living!