---

Guest post by: Elizabeth Mullen Become an Author

Tweet

---

---

From the Advertise for Your Own Life Series (this is Part Two)
What is the difference between authority and authentic? And how can knowing this difference give you a clear sense of direction, purpose, and joy in life?

When I first began experimenting with listening to my "authentic" self, I wasn't quite sure how I would know if I heard it. Like many of us, I had grown up in a climate of millions of messages from parents, school teachers, experts, friends, books, TV and media. An hour didn't seem to go by without hearing an authoritative message regarding my next decision or behavior, and the messages would play over and over in my head, even when the "authority" wasn't around.

I had grown familiar with the hallmark tone of an 'authoritative' message: it had a certain force to it, and was constructed in absolutes. I assumed that my authentic self would talk to me in a tone bigger, badder, louder and more absolute than those messages I got from everyone else. I waited for the chorus of angels and big voice from the sky...

Then during my study of communication, I noticed that messages with "proper" authoritative tone came in only two basic styles:

1. No/Don't (as in "no parking" "don't litter" "don't talk in the movies," "that is the wrong way,"...) or,

2. Buy ("cantaloupes for 1.09," "Dunkin Donuts are better" "drink milk," "this will help,"...)

Still I waited to be told what to do loudly and with great force, and sometimes bemoaned my apparent lack of Authentic Self. And then I began to notice a third basic type of message, and things began changing:

3. Directive ("listen to your heart" "exit 7A on right" "click here")

Even more importantly, I noticed that there were just a few places that this type of message came from:

1. an external source (such as media, person, book, etc.)
2. internal source--memory (my grandfather said to...)
3. internal source--reason (if this, and that, then next is...)
4. internal source--unattributed

Internal and unattributed is the place to listen for your authentic self...



Next time we'll talk a little about honing in using discernment.

Related Articles

  CEO Speak Out
  Attracting Holding Good Trade Show Traffic
  Blogging
  Ten Characteristics of Leadership
  Discernment
  Authenticity
  Telling an Authentic Story About Your Brand
  5 actions to give generously
  The Power of Tears
  Heart-Based Coaching: Three Simple Steps To Make More Money By Making A Difference
  Be True To Yourself As A Manager
  Being authentic: How can you be who you really are?
  Teams that gel are more apt to sell
  Big Hat No Cattle
  The Illusion of Authentic Leadership: Where Did the Morals and Trust Go?
  3 Questions to Determine Your Authenticity
  Buyers are Liars and other Sales Myths
  Do You Have the 3-A’s in Sales Behaviors to Secure Today’s Competitive Advantage?
  Does Crying Make you Feel Better?
  You Can't Brown Nose Your Way to Success

Related Forum Posts

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Ten Viral Marketing Best Practices

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.