She muses

Those of you diligently working with part one of our Authenticity practice have probably had
an “interesting” and possibly somewhat uncomfortable time observing all the situations and
ways in which you are less than authentic.

We now come to the culmination of this practice series:

The Practice – Part II:
Be 100% authentic in your interactions with others. Really!

Wow. Here’s some strong medicine!
Can you, even for just a few days, be and speak the truth of who you are?
A bit scary?
Also very enlivening and powerful.

You must continue to keep your attention very focused and alert…both on your inner
authenticity… and what comes out of your mouth. When we don’t tell the truth to ourselves, it’s rather impossible to be truthful with others.

But as we explored in our retreats, there are skills to authentic communication. Being
authentic doesn’t mean blurting or projectile vomiting with your words.

We want to be RUTHLESSLY honest with ourselves.
But SKILLFUL in our authentic communications with others.

Please read Dialogue Inhibitors.

You want to be present and contactful even as you speak to someone… as if you were
breathing with them and listening to them even while you speak.

You want to speak vulnerably of your own feelings and real human needs, rather than
your judgments of others. You want to address the behaviors of others… not your theories of who people are on the inside or why they do what they do.

You want to approach others with respect, rather than arrogance.

After all, your truth is only the truth of your experience.
They have their truth as well.

You want to contextualize and time some of your more difficult communications in a way that
maximizes the others’ capacity to receive.

But… I invite you to take up the challenge of 100% authentic communication for the next week.

Are there some situations where it’s more serving to withhold some of the truth?
Yes.
But not nearly as many as your anxiety tries to convince you.

Also please read the Risk reward Assessment.
Where real concerns arise around communicating truthfully, use this tool to help you sort out
what to do…

In the end, make a thoughtful, considered and committed choice. (And if you choose not to
deal directly, it should be from a very different place than your habitual avoidance patterns).

And this week, such choices should be rare indeed, as Part II of this Practice invites us to
challenge a lifetime of hiding.

The Practice – Part II:
Be 100% authentic in your interactions with others. Really!

Adapted from the practices of Robert Gass