Yvette Bernosky, B.Ms., Director of Fitness & Wellness, The Club at Grandézza
I could feel my body rocking back and forth with a gentle, peaceful energy. As I led this meditation on self-love, I was speaking from a state of transcendence. Inspired by my spirit, the words flowed naturally from me to the others in the room, as they equally received them. The beauty in this type of energy is that a natural high is often experienced, where creativity moves through the individual.
For me, in this blissful state, it brings me joy, and I feel the need to help empower others. But what does it mean to truly live from our authentic selves?
One may believe in being honest, but sometimes tells white lies. And, one may say I’m your friend, but then spread rumors about you behind your back. Or, one may believe it essential to care for their health, but sabotage themselves with bad choices. If these truly are one’s core values and beliefs, then they are choosing not to live authentically, as contradictions hold us back from living to our full potential. It’s like an invisible ball and chain around one’s ankle, weighing them down.
Just being alive is a creative act in and of itself. Each one of us is creative in many ways, as we may express our creativity in how we speak and dress. Or, through the arts, our work, or by using our imagination to bring innovative ideas to life. It’s important to know yourself for who you are, not just someone trying to fit in or feeling pressure from society to be a certain way. When we are in a space where we can freely express ourselves as who we are, we are living authentically.
A few years back, when I first started teaching at the club, members were not as familiar with the wellness modalities of meditation and energy work, so I decided to introduce these practices. I knew it could be considered risky as it would be a foreign concept to many, and the participants might not understand it or be open to it. However, I decided to follow my intuition rather than hold back, leaning into my authentic self, and what happened is that many members ultimately expressed how much they enjoyed it and looked forward to it in future classes. Had I resisted sharing that side of myself, the members would never have received my gift, and I would not have experienced the joy it brought me.
Our lives tick away. Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and the years pass by. As we live authentically, we allow ourselves to step into the essence of our being and reach our full potential, leaving no regrets behind about who we were meant to be. I encourage you to embrace yourself and always remember to be true to you.
