#MondayManifesto – Unmask Your Truth in 3 Easy Steps

And we all wear masks sometimes…we all get scared to show our authentic “Self” because we’re concerned about what other people think. Being aware of when we’re wearing a mask and having a genuine willingness to change is the first step in creating a life we LOVE where fear informs but does not dominate.

Below are three easy steps to help unmask your truth and stockpile an inventory of fearlessness on the road to living your most authentic life.

STEP 1: The Want More / Want Less Test 

• Draw a line down the center of a sheet of paper.
• On the top left side of the line, write “What Do I Want More of in My Life?”
• Then write the following categories, leaving some spaces between each to fill in what you want. (Career, Love, Finances, Spirituality, Health & Wellness, Family, Other)
• On the top right column, write “What Do I Want Less of in My Life?”
• Then write the same categories leaving some space between each to fill in what you want less of.
• Take some time to fill out each category. When you are finished, tear the paper along the center line and tear up the “Want Less” list, releasing its energy from your life.

STEP 2: The Five Fold Why 

Very often, we’re not consciously aware of why we want what we want. Applying the Five-Fold Why is a useful way to discover what you actually want – the purpose behind the form of what we think we want (or the motivations behind our desires). Don’t try to force an answer – just ask yourself the question in a spirit of curiosity and wait until your mind generates a response on its own. When your mind provides an answer, ask “why?” again. Continue to ask yourself why until you get a “because I want it” response, which indicates you’ve reached the root cause of your original goal.

Here’s an example:

• Why do I to be popular? Because I don’t want to be stressed about fitting in.
• Why don’t I want to be stressed about fitting in? So I feel like I belong.
• Why don’t I want to feel like I belong? So I feel secure.
• Why do I want to feel secure? So I feel free.
• Why do I want to feel free? Because I want to feel free.

The root desire isn’t being popular – it’s feeling free.

STEP 3: The Five Fold How 

After applying the Five-Fold Why, you’ll probably discover that what you actually want is quite different from what you thought you wanted. No that you’ve identified the root cause of your original goals, it’s time to figure out how to get what you actually want.

The Five-Fold How is a way to connect your core desires to physical actions. Let’s use the previous example: the core desire is to feel free. Is it possible to feel free without focusing on popularity? Absolutely – there are many ways to feel free that have absolutely nothing to do with popularity. Taking an alternative approach that addresses the real desire may be more effective than your original goal.

How would you go about feeling free?

• Starting or joining a club or team that truly interests you.
• Breaking off a restricting personal relationship.
• Reducing hours online & on phone (esp. social sites).
• Cultivating authentic relationships that allow for vulnerability.

Once you find a “how” that looks like a good idea, ask “how” again. Let’s say starting or joining a club or team that truly interests you would give you the greatest sense of freedom. How would you go about doing that?

Continue asking “how” until you’ve clearly defined your plan in terms of Next Actions. The purpose of the Five-Fold How is to create a complete chain of actions from your big idea all the way down to things you can do right now.

American Dance Training Camps is a company inspired by and created for strong girls. Doing what we love enables us to embody, model & teach our sixteen character values, or “movement manifesto.”

The ADTC Movement Manifesto is one way we promote our values within our dance camp community. It is an ever-evolving collection of bold thoughts that allow for some real conversations to take place at camp and throughout the year.

Learn more about ADTC’s mission & manifesto here!

Positive affirmations can do a lot to assist us in developing healthy self-esteem. Using our sixteen character values (the four “A’s”; the four “D’s”; the four “T’s”; and the four “C’s”), we’ve developed the “I statement” affirmations below.

Our hope is that these affirmations help provide an antidote for negative media messages, and a reprogramming of the mind and heart, both at camp and beyond.

This week’s affirmation:

Truth Affirmation: “I speak my truth with clarity & listen with empathy.”

P.S. Early Bird Dance Camp Rates Through April 15th!

Studies show that a key to happiness is having something to look forward to…now you can brighten your daughter’s school year as she gets excited for camp. This is your best summer rate. Hurry – ADTC Early Bird registration ends April 15th!