Be Your Unapologetic Self

In today’s world, trying to be somebody else is very common. Leaders and employees alike mold their behavior to fit the needs of others. This is understandable, as we are social beings who want to conform in order to fit in. However, doing too much of this may lead to a spiritual crisis. When you try to be somebody else, you are doing so with concerted effort and forcing a new behavior in place of what you would typically do. This process takes up a lot of energy and can exhaust you mentally as well as spiritually. Therefore, if you find yourself at odds with how you show up each day, you may be trying to act like someone else a bit too much.

The alternative is to be your unapologetic self. Be authentically you, as being yourself is effortless. Effortless means less energy used, which gives you more energy to perform other tasks. When you are effortlessly yourself, you are living a life that was gifted to you by whatever higher power you believe in; only you can find out what that life is like, and only you can determine how it will be presented to the world around you. But when you discover your unapologetic self, you will find that living life is far easier and more enjoyable.

This topic came to me due to the passing of Mike Leach, the head football coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He has been credited with the popularity of the Air Raid offense in football, which has influenced both college and professional football alike. But more important than football was Mike’s personality and the way he lived his life. Mike was the definition of living his life unapologetically the way he wanted.

In a world where most football coaches are straight-laced and overly cautious of what they say, Mike Leach was the exact opposite. Mike would talk to just about anybody about anything. If a reporter asked him a question, no matter if it was about football or not, he would answer it with the same wit and humor he always offered. Just google the best of Mike Leach, and you’ll see what I mean. Mike was the very definition of genuine and unapologetic himself, and that is something we seem to see less and less of in the professional world.

I mention Mike Leach’s story because it inspired me to remind my readers to live life the same way. Being your unapologetic self weighs far less on the soul than trying to be somebody else. It takes less effort than trying to control who you are trying to be because you have nothing to control! Being your unapologetic self is just that, living life effortlessly. Be like Mike, and share your unapologetic self with the world. You will be surprised by how much authenticity means to those you lead and those around you every day.