Are you ready for a happier, healthier you? Andreas Anthony creates a path for achieving an authentic life in these challanging times. Living authentically is not a destination or a thing to do but a continuous journey of honesty, self-discovery and growth.
A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER YOU
"I remember the day I hit rock bottom so clearly; it would change my life forever."
I was working as a town planner after studying at the University of Canberra to get my bachelor’s degree. I’d been in the game for almost four years, each day convincing myself I was enjoying my busy life while secretly dreading every minute of the daily drive to the office.
One lucky afternoon, however, everything would change when I received a phone call that pulled the rug out from underneath me. It was a call from the nastiest client I’ve ever dealt with. I snapped, resentfulness boiling over me as I slammed the phone down, my heart racing with a mix of anger and liberation. I’m done, I told myself. In that moment — although I haven’t realised it yet — I have just received one of the biggest gifts in my life: motivation and a hunger for real change.
That was over six years ago, and I’m now incredibly grateful for that very unpleasant phone call. It was the push I needed to reflect and overhaul my entire life. I was finally brave enough to start following my heart, becoming a tantric yoga teacher, psychic channeler and healer.
I’m now living a life of authenticity and so much happier for it, but the truth be told, getting to a place of genuine authenticity was tricky business. It was not always easy and maybe not for the faint-hearted.
Like coming out, the ramifications can be difficult at first. You have to break free from your hardened outer shell, formed from years of fear and perceived self-protection that hides your truth.
TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE
Living authentically means living in accordance with your own values and beliefs, and being true to yourself. It involves complete honesty and being aware of who you are, what you want, and what you’re capable of.
Working with many clients in spiritual coaching has shown me that authenticity is often confused with character, identity or an ego self. In many cases, it has shifted from an inward gaze to a social display or a persona.
"Living authentically is not a destination or a thing to do but a continuous journey of honesty, self-discovery and growth."
Sometimes, the ego adopts an identity based around what we think will bring us happiness, social acceptance or belonging.
In truth, however, living authentically is not a part you play. It is based on radical honesty with ourselves and others, an awareness of self, and softening the ego’s need to control how others perceive us, whether positive or negative. It’s a journey that requires vulnerability, courage and perseverance.
"In order to create the potential for authenticity, we must evaluate if we are acting from our true needs or from our ego’s desire to fit in."
QUEER SPIRITS AND AUTHENTIC LIVING
I believe that being part of the LGBTIQ+ community — or any disenfranchised group for that matter — can give you a head start. As queer people, many of us already know what our inner heart feels like and have listened to that voice, been brave and changed our lives as a result, despite what others may think of us, the difficulties and ramifications.
Coming out takes honesty and bravery as we journey on the path of authenticity.
If things don’t feel right and you’re not living an ‘authentic life’, it may be time to pause and connect meaningfully with your inner heart and intuition.
LISTENING TO YOUR INNER HEART
The inner heart is more profound than the organ that sits inside your ribcage, slightly to the left.
According to yogic and tantric philosophy, the energetic heart centre, which I call the inner heart, is located towards the centre of your chest at a nerve plexus. If you practice yoga, you may know the inner heart as the heart chakra, known in Sanskrit texts as Anahata chakra.
Imagine your inner heart as the compass in your life’s journey, always pointing towards your true north, guiding your decisions with an unyielding sense of your true essence. In addition to the energy of love being centralised here, your heart chakra has an important job: it also governs the alignment of your intentions, words and actions.
When you connect meaningfully to your inner heart and remain aware, you express what you mean and act on what you say, ensuring both words and actions align with your feelings.
Disharmony between these carves out ego-driven pathways that leave us feeling unfulfilled, depressed, lost, resentful, disappointed, and sometimes angry. When these misalignments accumulate over time, we can become bitter versions of ourselves. For some of us, this could mean living our entire lives feeling like we’re living a lie.
IT’S A JOURNEY, SO BE KIND AND EASY WITH YOURSELF
Personally, I don’t believe that anyone in human history has ever truly aligned honestly with their intentions, words and actions 100% of the time — well, maybe some saintly figures or the Buddha, but who knows? In this modern world, chasing immediate gratification at the expense of our authenticity pulls on us hard and is seductive. Social media or the promise of money and fame may create short-term fulfilment, but cannot lead to long-term satisfaction if gained without listening to our inner heart.
Unfulfilled, many of us constantly seek external validation and acceptance while denying ourselves true happiness. Knowing this, as we seek our authentic selves, it’s important not to be harsh with yourself. Self-love and letting go are essential parts of the mix.
Finding True Authenticity Is A Life-Long Journey, Not A Destination.
Through practices like meditation, yoga, breathwork and mindfulness, you become naturally aware of your inner voice and what it has to share with you. It appears in those quiet spaces we create, in your deepest hopes and dreams. It’s that sometimes insistent feeling that encourages you to change your direction, re-examine your work or relationships, or set new boundaries — even when you’re scared to. Your deep intuition undoubtedly has all the wisdom needed to create a path to a more authentic life, better wellness, peacefulness, contentment and joy.
In the quiet spaces, intuition and inner heart whisper to your soul.
My Inner Heart Story When I was younger, I used to dance, act and sing all the time. It was something that I loved and brought me joy. Sadly, like so many other kids with free spirits, I was bullied and made to feel ashamed by others, so I eventually stopped. It’s something that I regretted ever since.
Last year, however, after watching a dance recital, those memories of happiness started flooding back, and from my inner heart I could hear it whispering, “Start dancing again”. My mind threw as many obstacles and lies at me as possible: “You’re too old to start dancing. What will everyone else think?
I nearly didn’t do it for fear of being embarrassed. However, I found the courage I needed, and a year later, I found myself dancing once more. Following your intuition can be scary, and we often let our fears and ego dictate our decisions. Trusting my inner voice allowed me to reconnect with my younger self and do something that brings more happiness into my adult life.
A STARTING PLACE
Living an authentic life begins with cultivating self-awareness and creating space to listen to your inner wisdom. Here are some key strategies to help you start this transformative journey. Cultivating Self-Awareness Self-awareness is critical to creating an authentic life. It is the ability to notice, recognise and understand your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Far too often, we are wholly unaware of our emotional and mental state, essentially living our lives like zombies.
Even though most people believe they are self-aware, a study by harvard business school found only 10–15% of the people studied actually fit the criteria.
Self-awareness can help you identify your actual needs, see your strengths, and identify areas for improvement so you can adjust your behaviour and life accordingly.
A few tips to cultivate self-awareness.
- Practice being mindful in your everyday life.
- Notice when you have been lost in your thoughts.
- Be curious about who you ‘really’ are.
- Be honest about what you want and don’t want in your life.
- Reflect on your core values and what brings you joy.
- Keep a journal to track your feelings and thoughts.
- Ask others you trust completely how they see you.
Create Space for Inner Wisdom
Inner wisdom is our ‘gut feeling’, it is our intuition and inner guide that we can trust to point us in the right direction. In order to channel this ability, we must set aside our ego and ideas of how things should be and instead tune into what feels right.
Here are some ways to help unlock your inner wisdom.
- Meditation, yoga and other mindfulness practices are powerful tools for quieting the mind and connecting with one’s inner heart and intuition.
- Practice the art of deep listening to yourself and others.
- Spend time in nature and engage in quiet reflection.
- Pay attention to your body’s signals and intuition.
- Notice physical sensations that might guide your decisions.
- Practice being present in the moment without judgment.
- Seek out others on the same path.
Support can be incredibly important when you’re in need of guidance. Above all, be consistent with these activities, learn to trust in yourself and be intentional about following your instincts.
Be Intentional
Being intentional means cultivating daily practices that bring you inner peace and help you connect with your authentic self. Some ways to help you be more intentional are:
- Ensure your words and activities align with your core values.
- Avoid commitments based solely on expectations.
Seek Solitude
Although connection and socialisation with others are vital to your wellbeing, self-determined solitude can also be healing and restorative. Studies have shown that the ability to engage in solitude has been linked to increased happiness, better life satisfaction and improved stress management.
Research shows that people who purposely seek solitude and time for themselves when they need it experience less depression and are more connected with their true selves.
- Create a quiet space for introspection and find time each day to be alone.
- Listen to your inner voice without external distractions./li>
- Find a place where you won’t be disturbed; pop some headphones on and listen deeply to your favourite music. This will help you create space to explore your own mind in a quiet, reflective space.
- It’s not for everyone, but starting a daily meditation or breath practice, even as short as 5 minutes, in isolation, can be incredibly helpful on your journey to authenticity.
Studies have found that people who are more authentic are generally happier and have higher wellbeing. Authenticity can also contribute to better relationships, more personal growth and greater job satisfaction.
Authentic people instil a sense of trust, as what they say and do is based on how they really think and feel.
Andreas Anthony is a registered yoga teacher and spiritual practitioner. andreasembodiment.com
