Introduction to Authentic Expression

I think everyone has worn a mask at some point in their lives. It's in our nature to want to be accepted and to fit in with others. This natural instinct is deeply rooted in our human DNA and goes way back to our history as hunter-gatherers. To our ancestors, being accepted meant safety, shared resources, and protection against predators. To be ostracized meant death.

Some people have a naturally magnetic and charming personality, yet even these people find themselves wearing a mask and putting on a facade to fit in with the crowd. For a naturally introverted individual, you have even more of an uphill battle and start off with a clear disadvantage. Wearing a mask is a protective mechanism, and a means to an end for many of us growing up, but unfortunately, when you wear a mask for so long, you eventually begin to identify with it forget who you are beneath it. 

Yes, wearing a mask can be an effective way to gain acceptance from our peers, but what we aren't taught is that we are selling our soul in the process. Selling your soul isn't limited to industry rappers who sign 360 contracts. In fact, many of us sell our souls everyday by going to a job we hate, letting others overstep our boundaries, and not being true to ourselves. We slowly kill our spirit each time we make a decision that doesn't align with our true nature, and then wonder why we aren't happy. Not practicing Authentic Expression leads to a downward spiral filled with regret, and the only way to stop it is to take the mask off, look at ourselves in the mirror, and accept everything we see. Only then can we express ourselves authentically.

This section of the Inner Peace Protocol is meant to help you to recognize that you may be wearing a mask in your day to day life. This is the hardest part of the process; In fact, most people will fabricate a persona, and live as this person until they die. But if you're able to come to this realization, you'll come to find that rediscovering yourself is probably the most important and fulfilling thing you can do in this lifetime. This realization is most of the work, as you will slowly begin to practice Authentic Expression naturally once the mask is removed. This section will be full of techniques, practices, and insights to assist you in not only rediscovering yourself, but also expediting the process of allowing your true nature to shine.