Your Personal Brand: The Journey to Uncovering Your Authentic Self
Have you ever felt like you’re living someone else’s life instead of your own?
Unfortunately, most of what you see online on social media is nothing more than a highlight reel of carefully curated moments in someone’s life. It does not accurately represent who THEY are or who YOU really are.
No wonder that when you look at your feed and compare it to who you really are the two don’t fully match or line up.
Many think personal branding is about logos or curated online profiles, but it’s much deeper. It begins with uncovering the truth of who you are—your values, passions, and unique story.
It’s been interesting to watch social media develop over the years and as it develops we as consumers are getting good at sniffing out the bullshit. You used to be able to get away with the traditional “influencer” style posting on social but not anymore.
This is why you see people with massive audiences who can’t sell enough to support themselves financially. They call the following they have a “personal brand” when in fact it is the farthest thing from a personal brand.
Building a personal brand should be a public-facing journey of self-discovery.
Why does self-discovery matter for personal branding?
- Authenticity is Magnetic: People are drawn to genuine individuals.
- Clarity Breeds Confidence: Knowing who you are helps you confidently communicate your message.
- Alignment Drives Success: Operating in alignment with your true self leads to sustainable personal and professional growth.
Ok so now you understand that just posting your highlight reel leads to miss trust and a lack of authenticity.
What is the process of discovering who you are?
4 actionable steps that you can take to help discover who you are:
- Identify Your Core Values: What principles guide your decisions?
- Uncover Your Passions: What lights you up and brings you energy?
- Reflect on Your Unique Story: What life experiences have shaped you into who you are?
- Embrace Your Strengths and Weaknesses: How can you lean into your strengths and turn challenges into growth?
Along this journey of self-discovery, you are going to encounter some roadblocks or limiting beliefs. This is 100% normal and something that you should actually lean into because this is something that every human being can relate to. As we learned earlier being relatable to other people increases your authenticity and builds confidence.
Some common limiting beliefs in self-discovery are:
- Fear of Judgment: Otherwise known as the fear of being vulnerable.
- Overwhelm: The struggle of sifting through who you think you should be versus who you are.
- External Noise: How Societal Expectations Cloud Authenticity.
These are all very real challenges that come with self-discovery but I promise that if you work through these there is magic on the other side. There are also bonus points with your audience if you work through these things publicly because every human goes through this on some level and would benefit from seeing how you process and work through the challenges.
Ready to start your journey of self-discovery and begin to build your personal brand?
Remember, your personal brand is just a digital representation of who you are already. This is why it’s so important to show your true authentic self.
Here are 3 practical tips to start your self-discovery journey.
- Journaling prompts: “What would I do if I knew I couldn’t fail?” or “What’s one thing I loved doing as a child?” Ask ChatGPT for more prompts.
- Feedback from others: Seek insights from trusted friends or mentors. There is so much value in creating a safe feedback loop. Don’t overlook this step.
- Mindful reflection: Dedicate quiet time each week to assess whether your actions align with your values. If you can’t sit quietly with yourself and spend time reflecting, this should be the first thing you learn how to do.
I’ll leave you with this quote.
Your personal brand isn’t something you create—it’s something you uncover. Start by being true to yourself, and the rest will follow.
