The Art of Authenticity

As of today, September 19, 2019, it has been almost a year since I launched this book. I realized that I should probably explain here why I felt the need to write it.

In my work with Cuddle Party primarily, we talk about how to ask for what you want, how to share boundaries appropriately and how to create healthy relationships. After working through these things with many people, I realized there were some big pieces that needed to happen before you got to the point you could share yourself comfortably.

First, you need to know/discover/choose who you are.
Second, you need to get comfortable with who you are. How do we do that?

How do we figure out who we are? I know for me, it is a journey that has been conscious for at least the last five years. It is a process and not something that can be checked off a list. We have to continually re-evaluate. But the first step is to make that initial evaluation and choose our life consciously.

So, I have some ideas about how to create conscious choices for ourselves. I decided to write them in my book. I hope some of these ideas are useful to you. As I revisit my writings from a year ago, I see that I need to go through these things again, myself.

See you on the path -
Mary S.
I have hugs for you!

Posted on Facebook: Long post. Tl;dr is that Mary's book The Art of Authenticity is a must read for being your most beautiful self. It has been about 9 months since I made a choice to end my marriage after 16 years of love and friendship with my ex. I made the decision at the time because I believed it would be best for him and I was afraid that if we stayed together I would be holding pieces of myself back in fear that my whole self would be negative for his mental health. Mostly, I have spent the last 9 months in a reactive mode. I have young children who were used to one household and an ex who is a good person and good father. I often feel guilty for what I have taken away from them. I also struggle with feeling guilty for wanting something different for my life. This cycle leads to me looking at what I had and the pieces that I loved in my daily life and trying to recreate them or focus on their absence. Fear that I have made a mistake or that I am not worthy of a more true and beautiful life has stopped me from really examining what it is that I want and what life could look like if I take action and create boundaries for myself and others. I purchased Mary Sorensen 's book The Power of Authenticity back in February or March. I wish I had read it through then. I started it three days ago, finished it today and have had such a profound perspective change that it is hard to believe. I feel so empowered and excited to be my full self and to examine what that looks like both at present and in the future. I am done with letting fear of being too much or not enough for others stop me from giving what I can enthusiastically give, saying no to what I don't want to give or receive and ask for what I actually want. It is mins blowing to me that I can ask for what I really want and trust that it is not selfish. I don't have to only ask for what I think people want to give. People can say no and there are people who will say yes. I don't have to navigate life in fear that I won't have what I need if I am my true self. All of that to say, you should definitely read this book. I'm so grateful to Mary for sharing her gift with me and I will have many people read it. ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

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The book is done! It is being printed this week (October 1, 2018). I hope to see you at the launch party on October 12 at Kafeneio. Facebook Event Launch Party.

Order from me. This is the best option.
You can order the book and pick up from me or I can mail it to you if you would like a signed a copy.
I would be glad to do that.

1. Send an email with your mailing address to MaryCuddler@gmail.com. Tell me how many copies you want.
   
2. Pay $20 plus $5 shipping for each copy: https://www.paypal.me/marycuddler
   
3. Include your Paypal alias in the email so I can match up your info.