September 4, 2025- Authentically us

“He began to have a dim feeling that, to attain his place in the world, he must be himself, and not another.”

~W.E.B. Du Bois

We can either spend our lives trying to mimic others, whether to fit into a crowd or to attempt to emulate a role model we would like to mirror, or we can spend our lives seeking our own true, authentic self.

We can learn a lot from others. We can draw on the collective wisdom of those we encounter. In limited quantities, we may even try to copy their behavior, hoping to match behaviors we value. But if all we do is try to be someone else, we will be a poor copy of them. We will also be an inauthentic version of ourselves.

The only perfect role model for us is our vision of the best version of ourselves. That vision may contain qualities that are already present in us, and some that are in others. We must practice into habit behaviors that align with our vision. We can reflect on our own behaviors, and we can learn from the experiences of those around us.

Our journey is ours alone. Our vision is unique, so our behaviors must be, as well. Pick and choose the behaviors on which to model yourself very carefully, and let the product of all those behaviors be authentically you, as you engineer the life you dream of, one choice at a time.