*** How to Discover True Nature vs. Conditioned Nurture

The most empowering question anyone can ask of a child, or even an adult, is "Who do you want to be when you grow up?" A child will respond with wide-eyed wonderment and enthusiasm while the adult will often respond with a woeful look of that was then, this is now retort.

"He who trims himself ...The most empowering question anyone can ask of a child, or even an adult, is "Who do you want to be when you grow up?" A child will respond with wide-eyed wonderment and enthusiasm while the adult will often respond with a woeful look of that was then, this is now retort.

"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away." ~ Raymond Hull

Who did you want to be when you grew up? Superman? A Ninja-Turtle? Nancy Drew, Andy Warhol? Did you want to be a movie star, astronaut, teacher, or doctor? Who did you admire? Madonna? Albert Einstein? Mother Teresa? Lucille Ball? Who's life 'spoke' to you? What famous person, literary or movie character, or favorite relative did you want to be just like when you grew up?

Whoever you aspired to be reflects who you are, your true nature. It's not the person you adored, it's what they're attributes represented. It was their boldness, strength, creative spirit, can do attitude that inspired you. Perhaps it was how they served others that touched your heart. Whatever it was, the characteristics of the people who you aspired to be reflect your own. That's why you love the way these personalities make you feel when you think of who they are, what they have and what they do. You always love the reflection of you, your true self.

"No one man can, for any considerable time, wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which is the true one." - Hawthorne

What you don't love is an inauthentic reflection. Many adults look in the mirror and find a stranger looking back. Who is this person? What have I become? Where my early hopes and desires just frivolous childish musings or did I get on the wrong boat somewhere? If you've have such 'who am I?" thoughts then, yes, you did turn left when you really wanted to turn right somewhere along your life journey.

The good news is that it's never too late to turn around and get on the right, authentic, road. Authentic living is where the joy is found. Authentic living removes the shackles that hold you back and keep you from actualizing those childhood dreams. Turning from a conditioned nurtured life to an authentic natural way of life is as easy as getting on a bus. Simply show up as whom you aspire to be.

This doesn't mean that tomorrow you're going to run through the city in a red cape and tights jumping from one building to the next. Showing up authentically means showing up with confidence in your abilities, helping others, being strong in character with a solid sense of purpose and responsibility if Superman is who caught your attention as a child. It means showing up comfortable in your own skin, with conviction and without concern of judgment if Madonna was your idol. It means allowing yourself to stretch way beyond your comfort zone into unknown territories if you wanted to be the next John Glenn and walk on the moon.

As you look bleary-eyed into the bathroom mirror in the morning, great the day and claim your inner Steven Spielberg or Gloria Steinem. If you're facing a difficult decision ask what the person you admire would do, what would your inner being do or want? You will discover the your life opens up to new possibilities, renewed energy and purpose.

"If the shoe doesn't fit, must we change the foot?" - Gloria Steinem