Kia ora and hello valued reader

I have a template that I use for this newsletter and it starts with the phrase

How are you?

It is from one of my first newsletters, but today, I am going to include it again because the topic of my article this week is authenticity.

So, Instead of skipping over that, let my question of "how are you" be an invitation to take a moment to notice what you are feeling in your mind, body, heart and gut.

And I will too.

As I write this, honestly, I feel pretty exhausted. I have had a busy week with a lot of extra activities with my son, and found out that he is probably going to need to have orthodontic work done. I am feeling the weight of the potential cost of that. I have also been working on setting up two new platforms for my business.

This morning I recorded my podcast and then forgot to save the first copy. The editing went awry and now I have to re-record the whole thing.

I wanted to get it done today. It is my commitment to get it done and posted by the end of my Saturday so that people can listen to it over the weekend, and so that I can put the link in this newsletter.

The temptation I feel is to just push and force myself to get it done, AND to hide the struggle. To pretend I have it all together, or am at least pulling it all together. To present as a competent coach and business person.

The story in my head is that I won't be respected if I don't get everything right.

On one level, all that is me being honest. We could say that it is me being authentic.

However, all those things - the need to pretend and present and the story I am telling myself about the need for respect - that is all part of my ego, not my true self.

If I go deeper and ask what is under all of that, I recognise fear that I am not good enough.

Even that is not my true self though.

My true self is the part of me that knows all of that is a conditioned story.

My true self is the part of me that holds those other parts of me that feel the fear - holds them with acceptance, understanding and compassion.

My true self is that one who takes a breath, and asks what I really need in this moment - asks, what would I do if I truly loved myself, and then responds,

"Take a break and reset"

"Let go of the need to get it all done today."

​

How about you,

How are you?

What is under the surface of the thoughts and emotions you are feeling?

What would you do today if you truly loved yourself?

​

If you want to understand more of what I am talking about here, then reading this week's article (or listening to the podcast when I have re-recorded it) will help.

Also know, that wherever you are at, is completely fine.

You don't need to be anything more to prove yourself or keep up.

Living life well is not about everything being sunshine and roses and you being on top of everything all the time. It is about having the resources and understanding of how to hold yourself when life throws you curveballs and things don't go according to plan.

. . . as I was writing that my internet connection cut out - I think the Universe is telling me to take a break and go eat my lunch . . .

Time to reset. Catch you next week.

Aroha nui, much love
Janine

Let's Connect

Your feedback helps me to serve you in ways that are valuable to you. This week I would love to know what being true to yourself means to you.

You can comment below or email me directly at support@janinelattimore.com

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A quote for the week...

“Genuine people know who they are. They are confident enough to be comfortable in their own skin. They are firmly grounded in reality, and they’re truly present in each moment because they’re not trying to figure out someone else’s agenda or worrying about their own.”

—Travis Bradberry

Weekly Article: Being True to Yourself: What Authenticity Really Looks Like in Midlife

My article this week was about the three key ways that stress affects us in midlife and the three elements of complete rest.

Read the article

Listen to the Podcast Version - a link will be on the article once I have posted it

Remember:

Simple can be effective.

You don't need to know everything. You just need to know and do the things that are important to you. One simple thing practiced daily is enough.

That's how effective change happens.

Until next time,

keep living midlife well.

Aroha nui, much love
Janine

Janine Lattimore | Living Midlife Well |