As aired on KLBT 88.1 FM

Be Authentic

The greatest blessing in my life is having an early childhood teaching that let me know I was loved by my Creator. Unconditionally.

I meet so many single mothers who didn’t have this blessing.

• Women who think they must be perfect to be accepted and loved.
• Women who live an immoral life because they don’t think they are worth respect.
• Women who turn mean and angry out of deep disappointment from early childhood abuse.
• Women who become controllers to compensate for personal insecurities.

Authentic means to be real or genuine, not copied or false, true and accurate. 

Excerpt from my book, Living Learning Loving

When I think back to my first marriage, I must have been compensating for something that wasn’t working right or not meeting my personal needs, because I can see where I took absolute control over several areas in my life. The need to control something in my life, lead me to implement the SHE program – Sidetracked Home Executives, which was a highly ordered system of household maintenance and cleaning.  I found this to be an attractive challenge that appealed to my personality’s natural willpower and persistence.  I threw myself wholeheartedly into it.

Sometimes other people’s inability to meet our needs, which can be emotional or physical, leads to disappointments, sometimes painfully deep disappointments, so it becomes easier to just relay on our own abilities, to ward off the pain.

You might think that being independent means you have protected yourself from being hurt or disappointed, because of someone else’s failures, but that’s not true. Dogged independence often means you are afraid to acknowledge you may have limitations or weakness. Most fiercely independent people wouldn’t consider themselves fearful, but it is fear, bolstered by pride that keeps them from asking others for help. This behavior becomes a barricade instead of a boundary in relationships.

Self-reflection will aid you as you achieve an authentic life.

Your spiritual life and your physical life may be in conflict as mine was. I think that the goal of spiritual growth is to bring them into complete coordination with each other. Freedom comes to life when you are authentic in all ways.

from Daily Word April 20, 2018

My certificate of spiritual authenticity was verified the moment I was born. There is nothing I need to do or be to gain God’s approval or grace. The very source of my being is of God.

As I allow my authentic nature to shine forward, I act as the light of God in this world. I remain vigilant in contemplating my true nature through daily meditation on my divine essence.

Molding to the expectations of others can feel as though I am diminishing my light. Holding my head high, speaking and acting on my truth, I let my light shine. I affirm my innate passions and spiritual gifts are ways in which I serve. I focus on sharing these gifts knowing that I am an authentic expression of God.

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.”—Genesis 1:26

I am a Certified Professional Coach and I hold a degree from Lamar University in Speech and a Master’s from the University of Texas. I married Sam after raising three children as a single mother. I was an educator in regular and special education for twenty years, finishing my professional career as a Braille teacher. In 2007 I founded SMORE for Women. SMORE is a nonprofit association whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. My stories have been published in several Christian books and magazines. My Website.