Real Talk on Authenticity: The Power Behind Taking Ownership

Setting the Stage!

Part 1 of a 4-part series

While building my art practice these last few years, I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on my journey of self-discovery and the path I took to find happiness as my true self. In all the hours spent making little paper pieces and reflecting on all the lessons learned that provided courage to make change in my life, I realized there were three very distinct moments of honesty that were crucial to my success in defining what it meant to live as my truest self. Each of these somewhat brutally honest moments was a turning point, providing courage to create positive forward momentum.

I made the most significant progress toward positive change when I:

• First: Owned my S#*T.

• And then: Owned my SHIZZLE.

• And lastly: Owned my SHIFT.

These three key moments are essential for navigating any life transition, allowing us to find clarity in decision-making. When we have clarity in the decisions we make, we can then release all the self-doubt, leading us to develop the courage needed to take the steps that allow us to ultimately celebrate our most authentic self.

It’s important to distinguish the difference between owning our circumstances, and accepting our circumstances. Owning our circumstances is taking responsibility and recognizing our role within it, which ultimately empowers us to enact change. Whereas, accepting our circumstances often implies a sense of resignation and powerlessness. Read that again before moving on.

The mission of The Studio Authentic is to support the integration of creativity into your daily routines to unveil clarity through reflection to summon the courage needed for transformative life change.

Moments spent on simple creative exercises force us to turn off our brain, so to speak—which allows a better thought process to surface before moving to exercises in reflection. Think of time spent creating as providing a super-charge to your reflective journaling.

When we combine simple creative practices with honest reflection, something remarkable happens. Creativity, in its purest form, helps quiet the noise in our minds, creating space for deeper truths to emerge. The act of creating softens our defenses, making us more receptive to the insights that truly matter.

As these insights surface, they naturally flow into more profound journaling. Here, you begin to connect the dots between your thoughts, actions, and emotions. This process of connecting the dots leads to a kind of clarity that only comes when you’re fully engaged—mind, body, and soul.

When you pair this clarity with the courage to face the three pivotal moments of honesty—Owning Your S#*T, Owning Your SHIZZLE, and Owning Your SHIFT—real change begins to unfold. This isn’t just about reflection for its own sake; it’s about using those reflections to powerfully transform your life.

The first step is embracing creativity as a tool for self-discovery and change – you’re setting the stage! But what comes next is perhaps the most challenging and rewarding part of all: taking ownership. In the next article, we’ll dive into what it truly means to own your s#*t and why this raw, unfiltered honesty is the cornerstone of living authentically. Trust me, it’s a game-changer.

Stay tuned for Part 2. It’s time to dig deep, get real, and prepare for the transformative journey ahead.