?? The Authentic Life, Inc. ??

Hey everyone! ?? I am thrilled to officially kick off The Authentic Life, Inc., the nonprofit arm of By Design Consulting, LLC with this newsletter. This initiative is all about inspiring and empowering everyone, especially women, to embrace and affirm their authentic selves in every aspect of life. ???

At The Authentic Life, Inc., we believe that being true to yourself is not just acceptable—it's crucial. We're dedicated to creating spaces where people can celebrate their identities without reservation or compromise. Remember, the most authentic version of you is the best one. ??

If you've been following me, you know I've been using the hashtag #TheAuthenticLife for a while now. For me, it truly is a movement. Living the Authentic Life means being true, living boldly, and embracing every part of who you are, unconditionally and without pause. ??

Our Motto: "Be True, Live Bold, Embrace You"

Our Slogan: Embrace your truth and live boldly. Let your authentic self shine, unapologetically. Take the mask off and step into the light of your uniqueness.

So why is this so important to me? As a woman, and more specifically a woman of color, I've had a lot of people tell me who I should be and how I should be. I started my professional journey very young (at the tender age of 24) in a world where my age could have been a barrier. I felt the need to exude an extra level of professionalism, at least that’s what I thought. This shaped who I became as a professional. But I can trace it back even further to what shaped me as a woman.

I remember my kindergarten teacher's assistant—I can't recall her name, but I can remember her face and her words: "You're not that cute, why are you smiling all the time?" That one simple sentence stayed with me for YEARS. To this day, I still don't smile all the time, but to be clear, I've always thought I was cute! ?? But I digress.

I share this to highlight that many things prevent us from shining our light as brightly as we can and from being who we truly want to be. Often, we fear losing access to a person, place, or thing, or we fear being judged. What I have learned over time is that when I am authentically "Keisha, Boss Lady, Special, Light Skin Keisha" (all my nicknames), you get the best version of me. ??

This newsletter is about highlighting the journey to authenticity and helping you get closer to being your true self. I will share stories, strategies, and highlight others who are trying their best to live authentically. ?????

Stay tuned and let's embrace our Authentic Lives together! ??

#TheAuthenticLife #BeTrue #LiveBoldly #EmbraceYou #EmpowerWomen #CelebrateIdentity