12 Ways to Recognise That You’re Living by Your Own Standards
With this article, I want to describe the beauty and the charm of being authentic. Although we all have valid reasons for the behaviours we’ve learned, the change in our tone in certain situations, or the avoidance attitude altogether, there is enormous value in living your truth. Authenticity contributes directly to our physical condition, which in turn influences our feelings, thoughts, behaviour, and performance, or perhaps it works the other way around. Or maybe all of it is happening simultaneously, which is precisely why I find it so essential.
There’s something undeniable about a person who knows exactly who they are. No fluff, no performance, just presence. It’s the kind of energy that naturally commands respect, without demanding it. It’s felt in the way they speak, the way they listen, and the way they carry them-self.
If you’re still reading, perhaps it’s because you’ve already felt this, even if you haven’t put it into words. You recognise authenticity when you see it, and you can spot its absence from a mile away..
The truth is, we all do! It’s the most instinctive trait of a healthy consciousness … although is does happen that sometimes we convince ourselves that we may gain something better by not noticing. Such innocent foolishness often blindfolds us into persevering secondary gain.. usually on unjustified cost.
“You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
and get pats on the back as you pass,
but your final reward will be heartache and tears
if you’ve cheated the man in the glass.”
— Dale Wimbrow
So how do you know you’re not cheating “the man in the glass”?
Here are some signs:
1. No Hidden Agendas
You don’t manipulate. You don’t sugarcoat. People know where they stand with you because you say what you mean and mean what you say. Your interactions are direct, clean, and free from unnecessary complications.
2. Consistency Between Words and Actions
You do what you say you’ll do. Your word holds weight because you back it up. There’s no need to make grand promises or justify yourself, your track record speaks for itself.
3. Emotional Transparency
You don’t suppress emotions or let them control you. You understand that feelings are information, not liabilities. When something matters, you acknowledge it. When something doesn’t, you don’t waste energy pretending it does.
4. Vulnerability Without Weakness
You don’t posture, and you don’t pretend to have all the answers. When you make a mistake, you own it. When you need help, you ask. You know that true confidence doesn’t come from never falling, it comes from knowing you can always get back up.
5. Clear Boundaries
You don’t overextend yourself or allow others to take advantage of your time and energy. You say “no” when it’s needed and “yes” when it’s genuine. Your presence is valuable because it’s given, not taken.
6. Self-Awareness
You understand your strengths and play to them. You recognise your blind spots and don’t pretend they don’t exist. You take responsibility for your actions and don’t waste time blaming others.
7. Non-Defensiveness
You can take feedback without crumbling or lashing out. You listen, evaluate, and adjust when necessary. You don’t see conflict as something to win but as something to understand.
8. Genuine Expression
You don’t say things just to please people. You speak your mind, but you do it with purpose, not for the sake of hearing your own voice. Your humour, your values, your instincts, they show up in everything you do. And your sense of worth isn’t up for negotiation.
9. Acceptance of Others
You don’t waste time trying to control or “fix” people. You allow others to be who they are, just as you expect the same in return.
10. Integrity in Relationships
You respect other people’s time, energy, and emotions. You don’t avoid difficult conversations just to keep things easy. You’d rather be honest than liked.
11. Calm in the Face of Disagreement
You don’t react, you respond. You don’t feel the need to dominate a conversation or prove yourself right. You listen, hold your ground when necessary, and know that not every battle is worth fighting.
12. Presence in the Moment
You show up fully. You’re not distracted, not performing, not preoccupied with how you’re being perceived. You engage with what’s in front of you, and people feel that.
The world rewards authenticity,
whether or not it explicitly asks for it.
You don’t need to announce it, prove it, or force it. Just be it. Because at the end of the day, the people who make an impact, the ones that are trusted, respected, and remembered, are the ones who show up as themselves, without hesitation.
Reach out today to explore how hypnotherapy can help you break through habitual barriers, overcome limiting beliefs, reclaim your authenticity, and welcome the full potential of who you truly are..
To read the whole poem by Dale Wimbrow – follow the link “The Man in the Mirror”
