I hate wearing blazers.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love to express myself by wearing bright colors and patterns, chunky jewelry, sky-high heels, and more. There’s something about blazers that reminds me so much of the corporate world I left behind in order to become a professional inclusion speaker, which is why I can’t stand wearing them. Blazers don’t make me 100% feel like my Authentic Self.

But you might be thinking, “Wait a minute Ritu, I’ve definitely seen you in a blazer before” — and you’re totally right because I still wear them for work things. I’m good to throw on a bright colored blazer for the corporate environment — it’s easy for me to do and, because it’s a red or electric green, this adaptation helps me to still feel authentic.

What I’ve just shared is a prime example of my Three Selves framework at play. By understanding the significance of embracing my Authentic Self (I hate wearing blazers and don’t want to do this ever), the critical importance of kicking out of my Performing Self (I feel pressure to conform — to wear a typical navy or grey boring corporate blazer), and the effectiveness of choosing to behave as my Adapted Self (in certain situations, I’ll choose to wear a blazer, but it’ll be brightly colored), I’m not only in tune with my needs and desires, but I feel authentic, confident, and empowered.

And you can do this too by learning how to decide when to be authentic versus being adaptive!

But it can often be difficult to decide which self to show up as — your Authentic Self or your Adapted Self. You’ll find yourself in situations where you won’t be able to be your true, 100% Authentic Self may (it happens!), but you may not be sure about whether you should adapt instead because isn’t that conforming?

So the question is: how do I know when to be my Authentic Self versus my Adapted Self? In other words — how do I know when to wear a bright, colorful blazer and how do I know when to ditch the blazer altogether?

In this video, I share a tool that will help you tune into your Three Selves and help you decide whether to be authentic or adaptive in any situation. I’m sure you’ll find that it’ll transform your life!

Watch now!

The post How Do I Know When to Be Authentic and When to Adapt? appeared first on Ritu Bhasin.

Being authentic can be really hard at times.

As a fierce advocate for authenticity, I frequently talk about the importance of being your Authentic Self as much as possible. But trust me — I know it’s easier said than done!

Through my work and research on authenticity (and life experience), I can tell you that no one can be their Authentic Self 100% of the time. Especially given that we live in communities as human beings. And depending on the specific circumstances, it may not even be in your best interest to be your Authentic Self in certain moments.

For example, maybe you know that it would be better for you to speak in a more animated way while presenting at a work meeting instead of your preferred way of being more soft-spoken. Or maybe you need to pass along difficult feedback to a loved one and you know it’ll be better for you to tone down the language you actually want to use.

This is where your Adapted Self comes in. The Adapted Self is a powerful part of my Three Selves Framework that enables you to behave in a way that serves your needs, as well as the needs of others, while still maintaining aspects of your authenticity. In this video, I dig into what the Adapted Self is and why it’s such an important self for you to understand deeply. Learning about your Adapted Self will help you to increasingly stand in your power and commit to living an authentic life.

Watch now to learn why!

The post What Is the Adapted Self? appeared first on Ritu Bhasin.

If you knew no one would judge you, how would you dress? If there were no negative consequences, how would you behave? Who would you be if you knew you wouldn’t experience shame or rejection?

Would you get that tattoo you’ve always wanted to get?

Would you share your sexual orientation more openly?

Would you explore a new faith?

Would you pursue your dream career?

This person — the person you would be if there were no negative consequences or judgments for your actions — is your Authentic Self.

We’ve all heard about the importance of authenticity, and if you’ve been following me for a while you’ll have heard me talk about how empowering it is to live as your truest, most Authentic Self.

But I’d also be the first to tell you that it can be so hard to be authentic when we’re surrounded by the pressure to conform. I’m sure you’ve felt this before — feeling like you have to mask who you really are in order to “fit in”. I know I have.

So what does it take to be your Authentic Self? In this video, I share an introduction to what your Authentic Self really is and how to connect with this part of yourself. (I also have loads of other authenticity tools which you can check out here.

Uncovering your Authentic Self requires a lot of hard work, and it doesn’t happen overnight. But believe me when I say it’s worth it!

Watch now!

The post What Does It Mean to be Your Authentic Self? appeared first on Ritu Bhasin.

To say that the last two years have been an emotional roller coaster would be an understatement. With the racial injustice crisis, the global pandemic, and for me personally, my Mama’s journey with Alzheimer’s — I’ve been crying a LOT. I cry when I’m sad, happy, frustrated, angry — you name it.

But even though I’m a big advocate for crying, I know that there’s still massive stigma attached to doing so, which is so problematic! It takes an incredible amount of courage to be open and authentic with how you’re feeling and share this with others.

In this video, I talk about why there continues to be stigma about crying (hint hint: sexism and racism have a lot to do with it!), why crying is actually good for you, and how I embrace this important release of emotions.

Watch now!

The post Stigma About Crying is Rooted in Sexism & Racism — Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Feel Bad About Crying appeared first on Ritu Bhasin.