Let's Talk About Individuality

 



Good morning, all!

  I feel like it's been forever since I've checked in and written about something I'm learning or doing!

I've been busy learning, painting, purging, and enjoying summer!

Now I'm back with Authenticity Life Coaching! 

This course is through Transformation Academy and is taught by 

Gladies Flores Ramos. She is a seasoned international instructor and founder of Digital Parentpreneur. Gladies is a passionate advocate for personal development and empowerment, Gladies helps others thrive by empowering you through sobriety, nutrition, financial freedom, and authentic living, guided by Christian values and holistic wellness strategies.

Now onto today's exciting topic!

INDIVIDUALITY!!!! What does that have to do with authenticity?

Well... in today's culture and world of rewarding "sameness", your personal act of standing up and embracing your own personal individuality takes courage and is a radical act of "authenticity".

Check out this internet article from sweetinstitute.com on 

The Courage to Be: Embracing Authenticity in a World of Conformity


What are the benefits of embracing your individuality?

  • Emotional freedom and confidence gained from owning your personal quirks, preferences, passions, and strengths.
Here's an amazing article from geediting.com for your interest!


  • "Normal is just a setting on a washing machine". True belonging comes with being seen and "accepted " for who you really are!
  • Activities like creating a "Declaration of Individuality" and using strengths assessments like VIA, CliftonStrengths, High5 Test etc. help you to recognize and celebrate what makes them unique. 
Here's a personal declaration of individuality template created by copilot:

Creating a personal declaration of individuality is a powerful way to express your unique identity, values, and aspirations. Below is a flexible and approachable template you can use to craft your own declaration. Feel free to adapt it to suit your personality and goals.

Personal Declaration of Individuality

1. Introduction
Begin with a strong, affirming statement about who you are.
"I am [Your Name], a unique individual with a voice, purpose, and story that is entirely my own."

2. Core Values
List the principles or beliefs that guide your life.
"I value [e.g., honesty, creativity, kindness, resilience], and I strive to embody these values in everything I do."

3. Strengths and Passions
Highlight your strengths, talents, and what excites you.
"I am passionate about [e.g., art, science, helping others], and I bring [specific strengths, e.g., determination, empathy, innovation] to everything I pursue."

4. Aspirations
Share your dreams and goals for the future.
"I aspire to [e.g., make a difference in my community, achieve personal growth, create meaningful connections]. My individuality fuels my journey toward these goals."

5. Acknowledgment of Growth
Recognize that you are a work in progress.
"I embrace my imperfections and view challenges as opportunities to grow. I am constantly evolving, learning, and becoming the best version of myself."

6. Affirmation of Uniqueness
End with a powerful statement affirming your individuality.
"I am proud of who I am, and I celebrate the qualities that make me unique. I will continue to honor my individuality and live authentically."

Tips for Personalization

  • Use language that feels natural and authentic to you.
  • Include specific examples or anecdotes to make it more personal.
  • Keep it concise but meaningful—this is your declaration, so let it reflect your true self.

This template is a starting point, so feel free to tweak it as much as you like. Your individuality is worth celebrating!


I just took the VIA assessment for myself and it's free! it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Then they give you a lovely printout in pdf form. My top strength is Spiritual defined as "having coherent beliefs about the higher purpose and meaning of the universe, knowing where one fits within the larger scheme; having beliefs about the meaning of life that shape conduct and provide comfort." My lowest strength is bravery defined as "not shrinking from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain; speaking up for what's right even if there's opposition; acting on convictions even if unpopular; includes physical bravery but isn't limited to it."

Here's 5 different strengths assessments you can take:

  • Authenticity doesn't mean being the BEST! However, it does allow you to be fully, joyfully, unapologetically YOU! 
This article sums it up especially if you are a social media geek!

Now we'll get to the meat of how to own your individuality with Gladies Ramos' worksheet from this Authenticity Life coaching course:

1. Let's Challenge That Myth of "Normal"
Where in your life have you felt pressure to either fit in or be "normal"? How has that affected how you show up? 

2. Reclaiming What Was Once "Too Much"
What parts of yourself have been labeled "too much" or "not enough"? How might those particular traits actually be signs of your power or uniqueness?

3. Declaration of Individuality
Write your own personal "Declaration of Individuality". Include a few sentences beginning with "I am...", I honor...", or "I choose..." that celebrate the real you!

4. Strengths Spotlight
Take a strengths assessment like the VIA or CliftonStengths) or list your own top 5 natural strengths. Reflect on how you're already using them, and how you can lean into them more fully.

Here's an informative article from psychologytoday.com on using your strengths:


Here are some wonderful character strengths, examples, and intervention worksheets from positivepsychology.com


5. Letting Go to Belong
Where are you still toning yourself down to fit in? What would it look like to release that mask and show up more fully as yourself?

Here's how to rediscover your authentic self!


I really hope you've enjoyed this article and will embrace your authentic wonderful self!

Peace, Love, and Curiosity,
Laura

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tracing Your Triggers

Image
  Good morning Followers!      Lately, I have found myself dealing with old wounds and triggers. I realized as a result of my tools that these triggers are very much in the past and I can name them, take my space, allow my body and mind some time to cool down and ground, and then deal with the situation more healthily.     Growing up in a family of dysfunction, I reacted in an impulsive, emotional way. I learned unhealthy survival passive-aggressive forms of communication and often didn't allow the other person to speak. I heard something from a distorted scared child's brain and body and in turn, took things personally, attacked back, or dissociated and shut down to preserve safety, and last but not least retreated and fawned.   After years of trauma work, I realize my lack of healthy coping mechanisms, communication skills, and emotional maturity have caused me and many others pain. So today I'm grateful, I can be in the present and have sincere conv...
Read more

Identifying Potential Roadblocks with Clarity

Image
  Good morning, followers! Let me start off with Merriam Webster's definitions of the word "clarity": https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clarity For this blog we will be looking at both definition a & b. a :  the quality of being easily understood. b :  the state of having a full, detailed, and orderly mental grasp of something. Now, why define the word clarity you ask? Because it underlies our very topic we are discussing today.  Another term we need to get out of the way is "The Clarity Paradox" https://www.selfimprovementdailytips.com/podcast/the-clarity-paradox Now that we've gotten those terms out of the way, let's get into Kimberly Rich's  "Identifying Your Roadblocks" (Taken from her Future- Self Life Coaching Course on Transformation Academy). As with the past couple of blogs, I will share my personal answers with the questions. Objective: Spot Your Clarity Disruptors Target: What could be blurring your clear vision and ...
Read more

Activating Your Heart Chakra

Image
  Good morning followers,    Once again, Kumari Mullin, in her delightful and soothing transformative way, reveals the power of activating sacred heart in the Energy Healing and Alignment Coaching I'm taking on Transformation Academy.  Let's talk about what makes the heart sacred. The heart is the hub of sacred spaces. This energy center is located right in the center of your chest. It has the capability to perfectly balance the world of matter, your lower three chakras with the world of Spirit, your upper three chakras: anahata chakra in Sanskrit means unhurt, unstuck, unbeaten. This Sanskrit translation implies that deep beneath us lie personal stories of personal suffering and pain. This heart chakra is our feeling center. and because it is, can become very, very tender. When we feel hurt or overwhelming emotions, we have a tendency to close it down, so the pain is numbed out. This can happen at a very young age when we were a child, and our tendency to feel is di...
Read more