Written by: Bernadette Bruckner, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Many of us are struggling big time at the moment (or were even before COVID-19) when what we experience as our coping strategies seem not to work anymore. More than ever, we are inside and forced to wear masks when outside, hiding and protecting ourselves due to how we perceive we should behave in society, in relationships, at work, etc.
Does hiding our true selves work long-term?
As we see a rise in mental health challenges, both before Covid19 and massively during the pandemic, it seems that we, even those of us with tons of further education, including health education, have no idea how we can handle all the challenges facing us in many areas of life today.
What if we finally let go of all the masks, curtains, and false identities that seem to drain us of tons of energy to keep a picture up of someone we ain’t?
“Come as you are, as you were…” was a song title by Nirvana which I love very much.
Who are we without our filters, identities built to impress others, and all the imprints we have held on to since childhood?
Who could we be if we are just simply ourselves? With no hiding of our flaws, of our weird behaviors, without everything else?
Would we be loved anyway?
Authentic and radically honest — with yourself!
The most authentic and radical version of ourselves is when we are close to dying! I nearly died four times. I cannot (and never did) present a mask that wasn’t me.
I am me as I am!
That’s what I love in children the most before they get conditioned, trained, and imprinted with lots of others’ beliefs. I am an introvert who was lucky enough that my parents didn’t have much time for me… so imprints from others were given, but not that much. Today, I see it as a blessing. Back then, I was lonely and yet, not unhappy! 😊
Were you ever radically honest with yourself? If so, how was it? Did it hurt? Was it beautiful?
Was it weird? Asking yourself what is honest anyway?
“I have to lose weight, but not right now – I love chocolate bars too much!” – was that radically honest with yourself? Would we be divided, unbalanced, and unhappy if we were honest with ourselves?
Let’s imagine being honest with ourselves now:
Who wants to lose weight?
Who wants to have this chocolate bar?
Who would be happy if we lost weight while eating chocolate bars?
What’s this about chocolate bars and being skinny anyway?
Place all taboo topics on the table to heal them through being simply you as you are!
One thing I really hate is when someone is lying to me, and I sense it. Which, as a highly sensitive, intuitive person, is quite often. Even as a child, I was totally pissed about that! And yet, so many people try to be someone who they are not at all.
What is your biggest, hidden secret that no one should know about? Is it that bad? If so, why did you do it?
No one on this planet was born a bad person. No one! We are made through how we are conditioned, raised, and have experienced life.
Yes, that’s my view on living here on earth!
From whom do you want to hide? From yourself, and what you did?
I wanna use the words of Perry Power, an abused child survivor, “break the silence,” and no more hiding due to guilt, shame, or similar bullshit.
Healing begins with being radically honest with yourself. Completely honest with yourself.
Say what you want to say and do! Act and speak up your truth. When it’s too tough, say what you want to say to the mirror. Or to your cat. Then repeat.
Say it silently. Then out loud. Then louder. Then again! Then to others. You are never alone. There is always someone supporting you. Always!
“Come as you are, as you were As I want you to be As a friend, as a friend.” — Nirvana.
Our frame is not our limitation.
When I found out about “framing” and imprints that influence us from childhood, I had a key point in my life. Understanding that we get conditioned from childhood, seeing the world from the views we learn from others, I knew I could immediately change my perception about life and the world.
“How real is reality?” Paul Watzlawick asked, yet we do not know if we do not jump out of the framings and imprints we learned from others.
But, stop! Is it possible when we are surrounded by those who gave us those frames and imprints? Is it? How would the world be without those framings and imprints we learned from others? Similar, or completely different?
Many of us have the feeling that “there is more than what we grew up with!” You too? I experienced that, and after learning what beliefs are and how we can see the world in other ways, my life changed. Yes, my so-called friends went away, as I was not “useful” to them anymore.
I met many new friends—friends who are supportive and nurturing and don’t make jokes about me or take advantage of me. My family’s behavior towards me changed. My business changed. My life changed. I live my life the way I love to, not as others would love to see me live it, and I know you can too!
"Come as you are – authentic and radically self-loving and honest! With yourself!"
How would your voice be if you told your story? Is it like a romantic story? Or does it have a loving script? Who would you be in the script of your own story? Do you like the actor of your life, or not?
Would you stand up for yourself by simply being you? No matter what? Or for some else?
Let’s rise together. As an authentic woman. As an authentic man.
For yourself and, if not, maybe for me – speaking out your truth without any masks or barriers.
Come as you are. No matter what. Nothing else matters!
Let’s meet at eye level. On a human level. On a heart level.
United, we heal.
United, we grow and go beyond.
… all hurt.
… all abuse.
… all destruction.
… and start completely new!
NOW!
Bernadette Bruckner, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
The creative allrounder worked successfully in different working fields in Austria and abroad. By her interest in corporate communications, marketing, human resources, and many other business areas, she has appropriated an enormous amount of knowledge over more than 30 years.
Numerous educations at international top-trainers like Richard Bandler, Robert Dilts, Roy Martina, and Clinton Swaine. Internationally active as a holistic trainer in health, nutrition, and mental health with exceptional holistic resilience methods. Founder of „iMM – intuitive mentoring method and 1-min-coaching-to-go“, further development of NLP, as well as „ORINITION® - n(fl)ourish soul.mind.body.“ – an innovative nutrition work of (re-) membering our own body intelligence.
Successfully Master’s degree in health management with a focus on public health. International Ph.D. & research in health communication with a focus on psycholinguistics combined with neuroplasticity and health economics.
International bestselling publisher and author of numerous books in different languages. Global Author Award 2018 / Nominatee NLP Award in Research 2019 in London. 2021 opening my own research center for intuitive science in Austria.
