Authenticity is a matter of integrity on the highest level

lying-is-comfortableTrying to act like a Buddha won’t make you a Buddha.

I just finished a webinar… Before the webinar one of my students wrote an email to me wondering why I don’t lie to them before and during a webinar. Why I don’t say that it is going to be easy. That it is going to be piece of cake.

But it had taken me quite a bit of time and effort to learn that trying to act like a Buddha won’t make me a Buddha.

The vulnerability that honesty requires isn’t something everybody can handle. So lying allows people to be comfortable. Continue reading “Authenticity is a matter of integrity on the highest level”

A house divided against itself cannot stand

A house divided against itself cannot stand, said Abraham Lincoln, invoking a biblical truth.

Congruence = agreement or harmony; compatibility. Congruent = in agreement or harmony.

Pretense, lying, you and your actions not saying the same thing leads to no success.

An inner division, lack of integrity, lack of authenticity is the main reason you are not successful, because your energies are divided and fight against each other, instead of using that same energy to get things done. To accomplish. To produce.

Criminals are happier than you. Hitmen are happier than you.

You need to decide who you are… and stick with your decision. In words and in action.

Continue reading “A house divided against itself cannot stand”

Another wrinkle in authenticity and your strengths

We’ve spoken about authenticity before. My definition of authenticity, I borrowed from a note on someone’s desk I saw some 35 years ago, is this:

Authenticity means: there is nothing in the unsaid. There is nothing that you should say that you don’t.

That doesn’t mean you should say everything… No, no, no. The one who says everything is not authentic, he is a bore. Or she is. And often seemingly saying everything is a smokescreen that covers up what you are not saying.

This topic came up because some of the people I coach are in the middle of starting to use their strengths… or about to start. Continue reading “Another wrinkle in authenticity and your strengths”

The roller coaster of your inner life… the highs and the lows… Nerve wrecking

People are starting to recognize themselves in my articles.

I often struggle to say things in a way that matches the inside language of people… How they say it to themselves.

For example this whole idea of the swinging back and forth between the delusional and the devalued opinion of yourself… Continue reading “The roller coaster of your inner life… the highs and the lows… Nerve wrecking”