“Be what you are.  This is the first step toward becoming better than you are.”  -Julius Charles Hare

The advice “Fake it till you make it” isn’t necessarily bad. Whatever you’d like to achieve, you’re more apt to be successful if you conduct yourself with confidence. But self-assurance doesn’t have to come at the cost of authenticity.

A good leader doesn’t lack weaknesses; she simply knows how to leverage her strengths, while fostering new ones.

A successful person doesn’t always make the right decision; he acknowledges when he makes mistakes, learns from them, and uses that knowledge to move forward.

A respectable person isn’t someone who impresses everyone; she speaks in accordance with her own values and stays open to new information that might change what she believes.

Express what you believe today, and show it in your actions. Authenticity means acknowledging no one is perfect, and honoring where you’re at right now. Self awareness is the first step toward where you want to be.

Related blog post: 7 Key Steps to Living a Beautiful Life