Design Your Authentic Life: How to Break Free from Autopilot and Build a Life That Feels Like YOU
Learn how to live a more authentic life by aligning with your values, overcoming limiting beliefs, and setting healthy boundaries. Start building a life that energizes you from the inside out.
How to Break Free from Autopilot and Build a Life That Feels Like YOU
Ever looked up from your to-do list and thought, “Whose life am I actually living?”
Between work demands, family duties, and the lure of social media distractions, it’s way too easy to drift through life on autopilot—checking boxes but feeling low-key (or full-blown) disconnected.
If you’ve been spinning your wheels, craving more purpose, and secretly wondering is this it?—this blog is your personal pit stop. Because you’re not here to live someone else’s version of success. You’re here to design a life that actually fits.
Let’s go there. Welcome to your roadmap to living authentically.
What Does It Mean to Live an Authentic Life?
Living authentically means your values and your actions are in alignment.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being true. To your desires. To your truth. To the woman you’re becoming.
Step 1: Define Your Core Values
Your values are your internal compass. They help you say "yes" to aligned opportunities and "no" to things that drain your soul.
Start here:
What lights you up?
What do you want more of?
What would your perfect day look like?
Once you’ve answered those questions, did any core values stand out? Need a little help? Take a look at the list below and see what resonates.
Choose your top 5 values and let them guide your decisions, priorities, and time.
Interestingly enough, one of my business values IS authenticity!
For me, that’s having genuine, honest connections and embracing my true self and encouraging my clients to do the same. Authenticity is at the core of my relationships, programs, and teachings.
I also hold personal values such as trust, transparency, and joy.
Now for some tough questions…
Are your current actions in alignment with your core values? Take a moment to reflect.
If you noticed some areas out of alignment, what could you do to change these?
Step 2: Vision Board Your Values
Creating a vision board can shine a spotlight on your values and inspire you to take aligned actions.
Your core values serve as a roadmap to living authentically. The more aware you are of your values, the more you’ll take actions that align with them.
The result? A deeper, happier, more fulfilling life.
This is more than a Pinterest craft—it’s neuroscience.
Creating a vision board can shine a spotlight on your values and inspire you to take aligned actions.
Make your values visual to keep them front and center. Use a corkboard, digital design (Canva is great for this), or collage-style grid with images, quotes, and words that scream: this is the life I want to live.
Put it somewhere visible. Let it remind you daily.
Step 3: Ditch Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs are a huge roadblock to living an authentic life. And we ALL have them. Can you say, “I’m not good enough”...yup that’s one of mine. I’ve been working HARD to overcome this one.
Even though we all have them, we are often unaware of them. Science estimates that approximately 95% of brain activity occurs unconsciously. Meaning that most of our thoughts and behaviors are on autopilot.
Whether we are aware of them or not, these limiting thoughts hold us back from living authentically and pursuing our dreams.
Unless we recognize them and flip the script.
If you’ve got clarity but keep hitting walls, check your mental programming.
Limiting beliefs sound like:
“I’m not good enough.”
“I’m too old.”
“I don’t have time.”
“I’m too fat.”
“I don’t have enough energy.”
Time for action…
Think of a goal you’d like to pursue, but haven’t started working on yet. Then ask yourself why you haven’t taken action.
Reflect on an area in life where you’re struggling (health, finances, relationships, etc). Notice the story you’re telling yourself about this struggle and add the word “because.” Example: “I can’t get healthy because ___________________.” Whatever fills in the blanks is a clue to a limiting belief.
Watch out for self-talk and look for red flags like “This is just how I am,” “This always happens to me,” I’ve always been this way.” This can uncover false assumptions you may be carrying.
Next step…CHALLENGE them with these questions.
Is this true?
Can you absolutely know it’s true?
How do you react, what happens, when you believe this thought?
Who would you be without this thought?
Then flip it. Create new beliefs that align with your values.
Sure enough…YOU have the power to choose new beliefs!
“I’m too old” becomes “I’m perfectly equipped with wisdom and grit.”
Write these affirmations to reinforce your truth. Write them out and keep them visible. Say them daily. (Even when your brain’s like: yeah right.)
Step 4: Set and Honor Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries protect your energy and peace. They teach people how to treat you. And these are challenging to create and keep but they can amplify your life, avoid burnout, and boost self-esteem.
What are some new boundaries that will help you live more authentically? Take a moment to write them down.
Now that you’ve defined some healthy boundaries, the last step is to communicate and implement them. Basically…this is where the rubber meets the road!
This may feel uncomfortable, or even scary. It may even make you feel guilty or mean, especially if you tend to people-please like me.
Remember that boundaries are not mean; they are the foundation for healthy relationships.
Be direct, assertive, and clear…but be kind.
Using “I statements” can help.
Examples:
“I’m not available after 6 PM.”
“Thanks for inviting me, but I need a rest night.”
“I love you—and I can’t take this on right now.”
“Thanks for inviting me, but I need a rest night.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t have the bandwidth right now.”
Final Reflections: This Is Just the Beginning
This work is deep, ongoing, and powerful. The more you root into your values, rewrite your beliefs, and honor your boundaries, the more you come home to you.
Pause and reflect:
Where do you feel clearer?
What belief or pattern are you ready to release?
What’s one tiny, value-aligned step you’ll take this week?
You don’t have to do it all at once. But you do have to begin. Because your most aligned, authentic life? She’s already within you—waiting to be expressed.
Wanna Go Deeper?
This blog is just the beginning.
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