All of us wish to live authentically, but claiming your space and place in life is not always the easiest thing to do. However, leading an authentic life is more necessary now than ever in a world that seeks to diminish our worth through increased competition and the elevation of new societal norms.

Living authentically means being true to oneself and acting in accordance with one’s own values, beliefs, and desires. It involves being honest with oneself and others and not pretending to be someone you are not. Living authentically requires self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-expression. It also mandates being open to feedback, growth, and learning from mistakes.

Leading an Authentic Life: 5 Ways to Level Up

To live authentically, it is important to take the time to reflect on your own values and beliefs, and to examine whether your actions and decisions are aligned with them. It is also important to be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses. Start working on developing self-compassion and self-confidence in your ability to lead.

Lolita E. Walker shares five key strategies that will help us to claim our space and place today:

1. Choose yourself.

Who said that choosing you is a selfish act? What if owning your “yes” helped you respect your “no? What if choosing you could help you leap into a deeper connection with your future self? Who has time to sit in complacency when there is so much greatness awaiting you? What if that book within you is ready now? Would you know if that business idea has been clamoring to be let out?

What if we thought of leveling up as an escalation upward toward the sky? Consider “layering” as the cushion that helps us to bounce back between each of our levels. Here’s a reminder to layer your levels with self-confidence. What if that difficult conversation is just one breath and plan away? Lolita shares the “how” and “why” each of these is important to help you reach your personal and professional goals in this video.

2. Level up, layer up.

Leveling up in life means making progress and achieving personal growth in various aspects of your life, such as your career, relationships, health, and personal development. It involves setting goals for yourself and taking intentional actions to improve your skills, knowledge, and overall quality of life.

To level up in life, it is important to first identify what areas you want to improve upon or achieve success in. Next, set clear, measurable goals and develop a plan of action to achieve them. experiences, knowledge, community, and resources, to name a few. They will help propel you as you level up!

3. Authentically show up.

Gone are the days when we put on a mask when we walk into work. Gone are the days when we held our breath before saying a word. The world is demanding that we show up as our true selves and bring our best selves to work, life, and home. Are you showing up authentically?

4. Interact with your “Future You.”

Interacting with your future self is easier than you think. Close your eyes and imagine where you will be at the end of this year. Does this provide you with greater clarity?

How will you feel when you achieve that one stretch goal? Who will be celebrating with you? How many obstacles did you climb, and how many new people have you invited along your journey?

Interacting with your future self to live authentically and level up also requires a mindset of growth, resilience, and continuous learning. This means that you should be open to feedback, learn from your mistakes, and see problems as chances to grow and improve.

5. Make your impact today.

The key that I’d love for you to leave with is that you are making your own impact. Why not do it today? Today is about claiming what is yours and what is God-given. Today is about making an impact so that when people say your name, they say it with pride, confidence, and conviction because you have left your mark on them.

Make your impact and level up by taking action. Use your skills, resources, and influence to create positive change in the world around you. It requires a commitment to your values, a clear plan of action, and the willingness to take bold steps towards achieving your goals.

Are you all in? I am too.

Takeaway: Live authentically to claim your space in life.

Indeed, living authentically may involve taking risks and stepping out of your comfort zone. It may mean challenging societal norms and expectations and being true to your own identity and values, even if they differ from those of others.

However, the resolve to lead an authentic life can also bring a sense of fulfillment, happiness, and inner peace. It reflects that you are living in alignment with your true self and not pretending to be someone you are not.

I invite you to have a conversation with your “Future You,” to claim your space, as you also tap into your “Dear Forgotten You!” This may involve investing in yourself by taking courses or workshops, seeking out mentorship or coaching, or developing healthy habits and routines that support your growth and well-being.