Zushka Biros - Official Website
Picture
#blogartist #badass #coffeeaddict 
BOOK ZUSHKA NOW
  • Home
  • Book Store
  • Blog Spot
  • Buzz
  • Contact
  • SUBSCRIBE

6/25/2018

How I Became My Authentic Self

1 Comment

Read Now
 
Picture
In my past life, I changed my personality with the wind. I shifted to suit whatever environment I was in. I lost all sense of who I really was.

I was so worried about what people thought of me, that I did what everyone else wanted or expected of me. I did that for so long that I didn't even know what it was that I wanted anymore. Over time, I became unrecognizable. 

Somewhere in my early 40's, I wanted to find myself again. Her are some things I did to be more authentic:

1.  I stopped apologizing for who I was or what I loved.

I love what, and whom, I love. I don't apologize for who I am. This is the person I was create to be. When I apologize for who I am or what I love, I send the message to myself that I am not enough and need to be fixed. I spent lots of years apologizing for who I was; I felt like a burden to other people. Today, however, I realize that I don't need to apologize for the fact that I struggle with depression and anxiety. What I now understand is that I am exactly who I am and it's beautiful at times, chaotic at times, and sometimes both.

2.  I have my own beliefs.

I am curious about things. I have been this way since I was a kid - about what I was told, what I heard and what I saw. I don't need to accept things as they are. I used to let what others said affect me a lot. I would even let others' opinions of me affect my self-worth. Today I find this funny because I realize that there is no "one and only truth." What people say and do is about them, not about me. I have learned that it is okay to be okay with my curiosity about life and form my own beliefs and opinions.

3.  I ask myself what my motivations are.

This is something I have to do on a regular basis. My ego can look like a thousand different things, and if I don't slow down and try to understand what my motivations are, it can run my life. In my past, I was a people-pleaser, a caretaker, a worrier. I wanted people to like me and to think I was a good person. I used to say things that I thought people would want to hear. Is my motivation true to who I am? Or is it run by a need of approval? I am constantly checking in with my motivation.

4.  I trust my gut.

If something feels wrong, there is a reason. There's been many times where I've ignored my gut feeling, and regretted it later on. I ignored my gut feelings in past relationships. I felt something wasn't right but just carried on until one day it could not be ignored any longer. If something doesn't feel right, there's always some truth to it. My body can sense when something isn't right for me. I pay attention to my gut instinct and trust that my intuition is onto something.

5.  I spend time alone.

I spend time alone because I need to stop absorbing others' energies. I need alone time regularly to detox from the world, find center again and balance myself. When I constantly surround myself with others, it is impossible to ground myself. I make time for myself on a regular basis. I meditate daily. I go for walks by myself to the Post Office. I get to know myself, by myself.

6.  I speak my mind.

If I hold back what I really want to say, I get sick. Seriously, I'll get a migraine. I need to speak my truth and be heard. This doesn't mean I need to always speak my truth, but finding one space where I can honestly and freely communicate is something I need. Usually it's a journal, or a close friend, and sometimes it's a support group. I'm personally a big fan of writing, support groups, coffee dates with friends, and therapy.

7.  I surround myself with people who accept me exactly as I am.

It is really difficult for me to be my authentic self when the people who are around me are not those who accept me. I remember a time in my life when I discovered something new about myself and chose to change my way of life. Some people judged me and didn't accept me. I surround myself with people who respect and support me. I let go of those who are judgmental and critical of me.

8.  I discriminate information.

I was not designed to swallow information whole. I make information my own. I don't absorb everything around me. I ask myself a couple questions:  What does this information mean to me? Is it important to me? These things are what make information relevant, meaningful and important to me.

9.  I know it's okay to let people down sometimes.

I am a human being; I am fallible. I will continue to make mistakes and let people down at times. Being true to myself means that I am okay setting boundaries with others, even if it feels like I am letting them down. People that I want around are people that will accept my boundaries and opinions.

10.  I accept myself entirely.

I am loyal to myself. I am a beautiful, messy and lovable creature. We are all beautiful creatures, displaying our own unique array of colorful personalities. Our biggest challenge in life is accepting the whole spectrum of ourselves and of those around us. It's a journey of a lifetime, one that can not be easily mastered overnight. But the one thing I do know is this:  it is entirely worth it.

Share

1 Comment
Details

    Zushka

    I am living the dream, one day at a time, and sharing my experiences with you.


    If you liked what you read today, you may make a contribution and support my writing. Much gratitude!
    Contributions
    SUBSCRIBE

    Archives

    January 2021
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    November 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016

    Categories

    All
    2018
    2019
    3rd Year Anniversary
    53
    5 Star Reviews
    Abby
    A Day In The Life
    A Few Of My Favorite Things
    Amazon
    Analog Art
    Anorexia
    Another Night
    Anxiety
    A Random Morning Walk
    Arizona
    Art By Zushka
    Artist
    Art Show
    Art Shows
    A Typical Day In My Life.
    Authentic
    AZ
    Badass
    Badass Is The New Pretty
    Balance
    Beach
    Behind The Scenes Of A Photo Shoot
    Being Old Fashioned
    Belly Dance
    Billy Joel
    Birthday Gift
    Birthday Suit
    Bisbee
    Bisbee Books And Music Store
    Black Light Art
    Blog
    Body Dysmorphic Disorder
    Book Now
    Book Signing
    Book Signings
    Book Trailer
    Boomtown Builders
    Boost Brainpower
    Boundaries
    Boyz Club
    Breathe
    Busy Girl Boss
    Cameron Russell TED Talk
    Candid Writing
    Career Change
    Chandler
    Chaos
    Charming Attributes
    Childhood
    Choices
    Christmastime
    Clarkdale
    Coffee
    Coffee Addict
    Coffee Shops
    Coffee Time @ Cup O' Karma
    Collage Art
    Commitment
    Communicating
    Community Talk
    Compassionate
    Confidence
    Connecticut
    Contributions
    Conventional
    Councilmember
    Council Person
    Creative Problem Solving
    Creekside Coffee
    Crimson Rose Salon
    Cup O' Karma
    Customs
    Daily Life
    Dance
    Dance Party
    Darkness
    Dating
    Dave Kelley
    Death
    Destress
    Digital Detox
    Disconnect From Technology
    DJ Louder
    Donate
    Drama
    Eat
    Eating Disorder
    Embrace - The Documentary
    Encourage
    Entrepreneur
    Entrepreneurs
    Entrepreneurship
    Every Wednesday Morning
    Exercise
    Exposed
    Facebook
    Fall
    Feeling Blah
    Find Me In Downtown Mesa
    First Friday
    Food And Wine
    For The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur
    Friday The 13th
    From The Journal Of Zushka
    Germany
    Get Your Ass Out Of Bed
    Gilbert
    Girl Boss
    Giving Back
    Going Back To My Roots
    Goldenstein's Fine Art Gallery
    Good Ole Book Worm
    Grandma
    Gratitude
    Growing Pains
    Hair Stylist
    Halloween And Full Moon
    Happy
    Health
    Healthy
    Hiking
    Hire Me
    Hobby
    Holidays
    Honest Writing
    How To
    How To Support A Writer
    I Do A Lot
    I'll Be In The Village
    Independent
    Indie Author
    Inspiration
    Instagram
    It's More Than What You Think
    Jarrod's
    Jerome
    Jerome Town Council
    J Mountain
    Journal
    June 1
    June 2018
    Kate Maree O'Brien
    Keep It Simple
    Kindle
    Kindle Holiday Price
    Labor Day Weekend
    Last Day Kindle Sale
    Lazy Sunday
    Lee Otsubo
    Lifestyle
    Life Together
    Live Body Painting
    Love
    Love Yourself
    Love Yourself First
    Lucky
    Marketing
    Mark Short
    Meditate
    Meet Me @ {9}
    Meet Me At The Caboose!
    Meet Me This Weekend
    Mesa
    Midlife Crisis
    Mindfulness
    Mission Statement
    Mixed Media Art
    Model
    Modeling
    Modeling At 50
    Modern World
    Morning
    Morning Practice
    Mother's Day
    Motivation
    Motivational Speaker
    Mountain
    Music
    Music Events
    My Authentic Self
    My Studio
    Naked Empowerment
    New Book
    New Ideas
    New Year
    Nostalgic
    Nude Photoshoot
    Nutrition
    Old Jerome High School
    Old Space
    Old Town Clarkdale
    Opening Reception
    Outside The Box
    Passion
    Patreon
    Payson
    Phoenix
    Phoenix Art Walk
    Photographer
    Photography
    Photo Workshops
    Pink Hair
    Play
    Pop Art
    Positive
    Positive Attitude
    Pre Black Friday Sale
    Pre-Butterfly
    Prescott
    Prison
    Psychedelic Art
    Quote Of The Week
    Quotes
    Random Photos
    Rave
    Raves
    Reception
    Recipes
    Recovery
    Relationship Goals
    Relationships
    Relax
    Renovation
    Rest
    Road Trip Playlist
    Rosemary Tracy
    Route 53
    Routine
    Running For Council
    RV'ing
    Scottsdale
    Sedona
    Self Care
    Self-Care
    Sensitive
    Service Work
    Service Wrok
    Sherwood Island
    She Was Done
    Sign Up
    Sleep
    Social Media
    Some Days Are Just Damn Hard
    Starbucks
    Staying Focused In 2018
    Strength
    Stress
    Stress Relief
    Stress Relief Tips That Work
    Struggled
    Studio
    Studio Transformation
    Subscribe
    Subscribe Through Patreon
    Subscription
    Summer Book Signing Tour
    Summer Tour
    Summer Tour 2017
    Sunrise Meditation
    Support
    Support Indie Artists
    Support Local Art
    Tagboard
    Taking A Break
    Talk To Me
    TEDx Talk
    Thank You
    Theater
    Theater Room
    The Chai Spot
    The Church Of The Red Rocks
    The Holidays For The Rest Of Us
    The Man On The Other Side Of The Globe
    The Naked Truth
    The Secret Butterfly Trail
    The Summer Of 1978
    The Worm Bookstore
    Tim McLellan Designs
    Traditional
    Trailer
    Transformation
    Triumph Over Trauma
    Unorthodox
    Victim Role
    Video
    Violette's Bakery Cafe
    Vision Board
    Walk
    Warrior
    Websites
    Westport
    What I Learned
    What It Takes
    What I Want To Do With You
    What Makes You Tick?
    Where Are You Working Today?
    Where I'm From
    Where I Work
    Who Am I
    Why I Journal
    Why You Should Read My Book
    Wine
    Winter
    Writer
    Writing
    Yoga
    Zushka Biros
    Zushka Biros Photography
    Zushka Exposed
    Zushka The Artist
    Zushka Transformed

    RSS Feed

    © 2016 ZUSHKA BIROS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Book Store
  • Blog Spot
  • Buzz
  • Contact
  • SUBSCRIBE