By Susan Liddy

"What we are all striving for is authenticity. A spirit to spirit connection." Oprah Winfrey

If you've ever witnessed a Northern California rainbow, then you know of their magnificence. Large arches of vibrant color that stretch from one corner of the city to the next. Rainbows are the sun's reflection off the mist of a rainfall. And, it seems the more turbulent the storm, the more brilliantly the rainbow emerges.

The same could be said about life. Life's rain and sunshine moments shape us just as they do rainbows. Life can be turbulent, we would all agree. Sometimes life's stormy weather can impact us so negatively that we close ourselves off. I've experienced this many times through out my own life. Yet, it is during and in the aftermath of turbulence, when the risk is often the greatest, that connection with others is so important.

What are the colors of your rainbow and how vibrantly do they shine? Are there people in your life that know the glory of your rainbow or do you keep it safely hidden away? Showing others who you truly are will result in true intimacy with yourself and others.

Reality Check

You know you aspire truthfully when:

• You fear you're about to embarrass yourself, yet you do "it" anyway just for fun.
• Everyone in the room disagrees with you and that's okay.
• Your instincts ask you to slow things down and you do. (or speed things up and you do.)
• Something is troubling you and your reach out to a friend for support.
• You connect deeply with another person.

Fearless Integration

1. This week, commit to connecting with one person, in person.
2. Arrange a date with someone whom you'd like to connect with more.
3. Share something about yourself, over coffee. Anything that you wish too. If this is too hard, choose something that doesn't feel scary. The point is to share something.
4. Reflect upon your experience. How did it feel to share something about yourself? How do you think the other person felt? Was there a "shift" in your relationship?

Aspire Truthfully!

About the Author:

Susan Liddy, MA is a Life Coach and founder of Aspire Life Coaching™. Susan facilitates personal growth in women who have poor self esteem, negative body image and unhealthy relationships. Common to most of Susan’s clients is having the general feeling that “something is missing in their lives” with fear being the root cause. Susan’s programs and seminars teach women how to manage fear and create a healthy lifestyle through self care, fulfillment and healthy relationships.

©2007 Susan Liddy, AspireLifeCoaching.org, All rights reserved.

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