2923: [Part 1] How to Become Your Most Authentic Self by The Barefoot Minimalists on Living a Purposeful Life

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_00]: This is Optimal Living Daily, Episode 2923, How to Become Your Most Authentic Self, Part 1 by The Barefoot Minimalists of BarefootMinimalist.com and I'm Justin Malik.

[00:00:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to one of the only podcasts in the world where blogs are narrated to you for free with permission from the authors.

[00:00:18] [SPEAKER_00]: It's an award-winning podcast thanks to you.

[00:00:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Today I have a bit of a longer post so I'll read the first half but then finish the rest for you tomorrow.

[00:00:25] [SPEAKER_00]: So with that, let's get right to it and start optimizing your life.

[00:00:28] [SPEAKER_00]: How to Become Your Most Authentic Self, Part 1 by The Barefoot Minimalists of BarefootMinimalist.com

[00:00:41] [SPEAKER_00]: What does it mean to be your most authentic self?

[00:00:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Authenticity at its core is about embracing who you truly are.

[00:00:49] [SPEAKER_00]: It's about living in alignment with your values, beliefs and aspirations, even when it means stepping outside your comfort zone or societal expectations.

[00:00:57] [SPEAKER_00]: By becoming your most authentic self, you'll become a magnet for genuine connections and meaningful experiences.

[00:01:04] [SPEAKER_00]: In this post, we'll dive into 10 actionable ways to develop authenticity in your life.

[00:01:11] [SPEAKER_00]: 10 actionable ways to develop authenticity.

[00:01:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Number one, practice what you preach.

[00:01:18] [SPEAKER_00]: The most commonly shared advice for becoming your most authentic self is to embrace who you truly are.

[00:01:24] [SPEAKER_00]: But what if you don't know who you truly are?

[00:01:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Unfortunately, it's not an easy question to answer.

[00:01:30] [SPEAKER_00]: But you can learn a lot about yourself by observing what you tell others.

[00:01:34] [SPEAKER_00]: It's like looking in a mirror that reflects your own values, beliefs and desires.

[00:01:39] [SPEAKER_00]: Think about it.

[00:01:40] [SPEAKER_00]: When someone gives you advice but doesn't follow it themselves, it feels off, right?

[00:01:45] [SPEAKER_00]: It makes you think, this person isn't being authentic.

[00:01:48] [SPEAKER_00]: But when someone shares advice with you and you know they genuinely live by it,

[00:01:52] [SPEAKER_00]: they come off as much more authentic.

[00:01:55] [SPEAKER_00]: This is because you know they're aligning their words with their actions.

[00:02:00] [SPEAKER_00]: By embracing the power of practicing what you preach,

[00:02:03] [SPEAKER_00]: you not only cultivate authenticity within yourself,

[00:02:06] [SPEAKER_00]: but also inspire trust and admiration from those around you.

[00:02:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Number two, make yourself proud.

[00:02:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Instead of tirelessly seeking external validation,

[00:02:17] [SPEAKER_00]: focus on doing things that genuinely make you proud.

[00:02:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Sure, holding down an impressive career might give your family something to brag about during functions,

[00:02:26] [SPEAKER_00]: but does it align with your values?

[00:02:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Does that career make you truly happy?

[00:02:31] [SPEAKER_00]: Rather than living a life solely to gain the approval of your friends and family,

[00:02:35] [SPEAKER_00]: ask yourself, what kind of life do you want to live?

[00:02:38] [SPEAKER_00]: What kind of job would I have if nobody questioned it?

[00:02:42] [SPEAKER_00]: What hobbies would I pursue if I weren't afraid of judgment?

[00:02:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Authenticity is all about being true to yourself,

[00:02:48] [SPEAKER_00]: even if it means deviating from the expectations of others.

[00:02:52] [SPEAKER_00]: By doing things that align with your own sense of pride and fulfillment,

[00:02:56] [SPEAKER_00]: you open up a world of possibilities.

[00:02:58] [SPEAKER_00]: You give yourself permission to explore your passions, chase your dreams,

[00:03:02] [SPEAKER_00]: and create a life that feels authentic to you.

[00:03:06] [SPEAKER_00]: Number three, don't be afraid to fail.

[00:03:10] [SPEAKER_00]: You may not be living your most authentic life simply because you're afraid to fail.

[00:03:14] [SPEAKER_00]: If you crave a life filled with adventure and spontaneity,

[00:03:17] [SPEAKER_00]: but you're afraid to take the necessary steps to change your life,

[00:03:21] [SPEAKER_00]: you may forever find yourself stuck in a stagnant routine.

[00:03:25] [SPEAKER_00]: Authenticity requires taking risks and stepping outside your comfort zone.

[00:03:30] [SPEAKER_00]: It means being true to yourself, even if it means failing in the end.

[00:03:34] [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, quitting your 9-to-5 job to pursue your dreams may not work out,

[00:03:38] [SPEAKER_00]: but if that possibility is holding you back from trying,

[00:03:41] [SPEAKER_00]: you'll never know the extent to the authenticity you can live by.

[00:03:45] [SPEAKER_00]: Living authentically requires you to acknowledge that failure is a natural part of the journey.

[00:03:52] [SPEAKER_00]: Number four, vote with your dollar.

[00:03:55] [SPEAKER_00]: We dedicate a significant portion of our lives to earning money,

[00:03:59] [SPEAKER_00]: so how we choose to spend it truly matters.

[00:04:02] [SPEAKER_00]: By consciously spending money in ways and at places that reflect your values,

[00:04:07] [SPEAKER_00]: you can cultivate a deeper sense of authenticity.

[00:04:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Instead of mindlessly splurging at the mall,

[00:04:13] [SPEAKER_00]: take a moment to reflect on what you truly want to support.

[00:04:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Do you want to contribute to massive corporations with questionable practices?

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Or would you rather channel your resources towards local mom-and-pop shops that embody your values?

[00:04:27] [SPEAKER_00]: By consciously aligning your spending with your values,

[00:04:30] [SPEAKER_00]: you send a powerful message about what you stand for.

[00:04:34] [SPEAKER_00]: It's like casting a vote for the kind of world you want to see.

[00:04:37] [SPEAKER_00]: I invite you to view each financial decision as an opportunity to live more or less authentically.

[00:04:45] [SPEAKER_00]: Number five, set your own pace.

[00:04:48] [SPEAKER_00]: Setting your own pace is key to becoming your most authentic self.

[00:04:52] [SPEAKER_00]: Having recently moved to the Pacific Northwest from the south,

[00:04:56] [SPEAKER_00]: I've noticed that the people around me live a much more fast-paced and adventurous lifestyle.

[00:05:01] [SPEAKER_00]: It seems like there's always an extreme sport or a backpacking trip on their agenda.

[00:05:06] [SPEAKER_00]: While I appreciate and enjoy these activities,

[00:05:09] [SPEAKER_00]: it's not my natural inclination to fill every moment of my days with such high energy pursuits.

[00:05:15] [SPEAKER_00]: I find joy in fulfillment in the simplicity of my routines and the mundane aspects of life.

[00:05:22] [SPEAKER_00]: Instead of rushing through them to make space for everything,

[00:05:25] [SPEAKER_00]: I prefer to keep my schedule open and allow myself the freedom to savor those everyday moments.

[00:05:31] [SPEAKER_00]: By setting my own pace and prioritizing what truly matters to me,

[00:05:35] [SPEAKER_00]: I've been able to live more authentically.

[00:05:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Authenticity is about being true to yourself and honoring your own pace.

[00:05:43] [SPEAKER_00]: It's about giving yourself permission to stay in, even when everyone else is going out.

[00:05:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Number six, hear that on tomorrow's episode.

[00:05:56] [SPEAKER_00]: You just listened to part one of the post titled,

[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_00]: How To Become Your Most Authentic Self by the Barefoot Minimalists of BarefootMinimalists.com

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[00:07:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you to the Barefoot Minimalists.

[00:07:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Some of these are a bit more difficult than others and some have more gray areas than others.

[00:07:26] [SPEAKER_00]: But one from this list so far that I think we can all start doing today is voting with our dollars.

[00:07:33] [SPEAKER_00]: If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you might remember me talking about how I track every single dollar

[00:07:38] [SPEAKER_00]: that comes in and out of my life down to the penny in fact.

[00:07:42] [SPEAKER_00]: And I've been doing that since 2010, believe it or not.

[00:07:46] [SPEAKER_00]: And that kind of tracking leads to more awareness of where my money is going.

[00:07:50] [SPEAKER_00]: And I actually have to review every single transaction.

[00:07:52] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's almost like I'm judging each expense after the fact.

[00:07:57] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a very helpful thing to do, especially come tax season.

[00:08:00] [SPEAKER_00]: So I highly recommend trying it even for just one week.

[00:08:04] [SPEAKER_00]: I use an app that automates most of the work.

[00:08:07] [SPEAKER_00]: You can get a free trial of that app at oldpodcast.com slash track.

[00:08:13] [SPEAKER_00]: But all that to say that kind of awareness leads to more alignment of spending with my values.

[00:08:20] [SPEAKER_00]: I'd recommend giving it a shot.

[00:08:22] [SPEAKER_00]: And for more on money, you can check out our sister podcast, Optimal Finance Daily.

[00:08:27] [SPEAKER_00]: But we're just halfway through the article so I'll stop there for now.

[00:08:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for being here and listening every day.

[00:08:32] [SPEAKER_00]: And I'll be back tomorrow to finish up this post where your optimal life awaits.