You & me + 5%.

"Who are you when no one is looking?" That is a serious question to consider, isn’t it? This question came up in my leadership group yesterday. In the context of leadership this is a critical question. Who I am when no one is looking is who I really am! I guess the next question I have to ask is, if I am something different in your presence than when I am alone, why? Why am I hiding and from what?

Thomas Dubay author of AUTHENTICITY: A Biblical Theology of Discernment says, "If one wishes a one-word summary of the biblical teaching of getting to the mind of God, the word is authenticity." He asks, What is authenticity? It comes from the Greek, which means primary or original. Dubay says authenticity is "reality without the sham."

Don't you think most people somewhere in their souls wish to be authentic? I know I want to be. There is the reality that if I show you who I am you may not like it and I will risk rejection. I wonder what is worse to be rejected for being myself or to live an inauthentic life? To live an intentionally transparent life takes courage and risk, doesn't it?It is almost like having to retrain oneself from the way we have been conditioned to live. Family, church, and systems have conditioned us how to project an image of who we want others to perceive us rather than who we are. The search for God in many ways is a hunger to connect with one’s true authentic essence.

I once read a book that encouraged the reader to make simple changes rather than to attempt to make drastic changes. The author suggested attempting to make a 5% change. For example, if you were to bring 5% more authenticity to your life today what would it look like? I used this principle as a karate instructor. I used to encourage my students to try to improve by 5% rather that being pressured to be 100% better. My employees also responded well to this 5% principle. It is amazing what happens when people are only 5% more intentional about the change they want to make.

What would you life look like if you only made the changes you desire by 5%? Perhaps you want to pray more each day. What would being 5% more intentional look like for you? How would you feel if you were only 5% more authentic or true to yourself? How would this principle of 5 % work in your life? Just imagine if tomorrow at work or church everyone was only 5% more authentic. Do you think it would make a difference? I need to remind myself of this principle each day; make it a part of my morning meditation and devotion.