---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you experience how rewarding it is…"
description: "\"“Once you experience how rewarding it is to be your true self, flaws and all, without the need to feel guilty or inadequate, you will begin to wonder, ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/arelis-calkins-51256_authenticity_once-you-experience-how-rewarding-it-is_2823190.jpg"
---

#  Once you experience how rewarding it is to be your true…

![“Once you experience how rewarding it is to be your true self, flaws and all, without the need to feel guilty or inadequate, you will begin to wonder, ‘Where have I been my whole entire life?” quote by Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/arelis-calkins-51256_authenticity_once-you-experience-how-rewarding-it-is_2823190.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/arelis-calkins-51256_authenticity_once-you-experience-how-rewarding-it-is_2823190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/arelis-calkins-51256_authenticity_once-you-experience-how-rewarding-it-is_2823190.jpg)

> ““Once you experience how rewarding it is to be your true self, flaws and all, without the need to feel guilty or inadequate, you will begin to wonder, ‘Where have I been my whole entire life?””

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Embracing your genuine self, imperfections included, leads to profound fulfillment and self‑acceptance.

**In simple terms:** Be yourself, flaws and all.

Key Takeaway

Accept and celebrate your true self.

Themes

self‑acceptance authenticity growth

Mood

hopeful encouraging

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- coaching
- daily affirmations

Key Concepts

vulnerability self‑compassion

Questions to Reflect On

- What fears arise when you reveal your true self?
- How can you practice self‑compassion daily?

A Different Perspective

Societal pressure can hinder authentic living.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Authenticity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authenticity/) [Entire life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entire-life/) [Experience Rewarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-rewarding-2765454/) [Healing-journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing-journey/) [Inner-child-healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-child-healing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Personal growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-growth/) [Rewarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewarding/) [Rewarding True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewarding-true-3605003/) [Self discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-discovery/) [Self Flaws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-flaws-3605004/) [Self worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-worth/) [Trauma-recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma-recovery/) [True self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-self/)

## Related quotes

> [“It is time to tell your story without feeling ashamed. This is how you heal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/it-is-time-to-tell-your-story-without-feeling-ashamed-this-is-how-you/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

> [“Learning who we truly are on the inside gives us the confidence of being ourselves regardless of the place or person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/learning-who-we-truly-are-on-the-inside-gives-us-the-confidence-of/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

> [“Think of your pain as nothing else but a requirement to become the best version of yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/think-of-your-pain-as-nothing-else-but-a-requirement-to-become-the/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

> [“These days I feel empowered by the same disturbing stories that once broke my spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/these-days-i-feel-empowered-by-the-same-disturbing-stories-that-once/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

> [“The future's unfolding Swaths of possibilities Rapids of change With cliffs of discovery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-moonias/the-future-s-unfolding-swaths-of-possibilities-rapids-of-change-with/)

[Sandy Moonias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-moonias/)

> [“Courage doesn't always arrive on time. Sometimes it shows up in the smallest moments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denika-fercho/courage-doesn-t-always-arrive-on-time-sometimes-it-shows-up-in-the/)

[Denika Fercho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denika-fercho/)

> [It has been my experience that rewarding and heartbreaking often go hand in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-goldberg-sloan/it-has-been-my-experience-that-rewarding-and-heartbreaking-often-go/)

[Holly Goldberg Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-goldberg-sloan/)

> [You certainly never know when you're reading a script if it might be your last. But I'm not afraid, because this experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/you-certainly-never-know-when-you-re-reading-a-script-if-it-might-be/)

[Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/)

> [“Acceptance can be so freeing. Before you know it, you’ll move toward forgiveness, which leads to wholeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/acceptance-can-be-so-freeing-before-you-know-it-you-ll-move-toward/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

> [“I went from having no boundaries to taking a tremendous amount of offense when anyone tries crossing them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/i-went-from-having-no-boundaries-to-taking-a-tremendous-amount-of/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

> [“The more you don’t want to be like your parents, the more you will resemble them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yong-kang-chan/the-more-you-don-t-want-to-be-like-your-parents-the-more-you-will/)

[Yong Kang Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yong-kang-chan/)

> [“Your inner child is waiting for a genuine, heartfelt apology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yong-kang-chan/your-inner-child-is-waiting-for-a-genuine-heartfelt-apology/)

[Yong Kang Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yong-kang-chan/)

> [“When you hate your parents or dislike certain traits that they have, you are actually giving them more attention and directing your energy toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yong-kang-chan/when-you-hate-your-parents-or-dislike-certain-traits-that-they-have/)

[Yong Kang Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yong-kang-chan/)

> [“Many of us are guilty of not taking enough time to dial into our inner child's voice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/many-of-us-are-guilty-of-not-taking-enough-time-to-dial-into-our/)

[Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/)

> [“Awaken to Beauty. Get to know you, everyday more. Teach your children the same. The earth delights in her beautiful flowers. You are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulonda-faye/awaken-to-beauty-get-to-know-you-everyday-more-teach-your-children/)

[Ulonda Faye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulonda-faye/)

## More by Arelis Calkins

> [“These days I feel empowered by the same disturbing stories that once broke my spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/these-days-i-feel-empowered-by-the-same-disturbing-stories-that-once/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

> [“Learning who we truly are on the inside gives us the confidence of being ourselves regardless of the place or person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/learning-who-we-truly-are-on-the-inside-gives-us-the-confidence-of/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

> [“It is time to tell your story without feeling ashamed. This is how you heal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/it-is-time-to-tell-your-story-without-feeling-ashamed-this-is-how-you/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

> [“Acceptance can be so freeing. Before you know it, you’ll move toward forgiveness, which leads to wholeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/acceptance-can-be-so-freeing-before-you-know-it-you-ll-move-toward/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

> [“Think of your pain as nothing else but a requirement to become the best version of yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/think-of-your-pain-as-nothing-else-but-a-requirement-to-become-the/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

> [“I went from having no boundaries to taking a tremendous amount of offense when anyone tries crossing them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arelis-calkins/i-went-from-having-no-boundaries-to-taking-a-tremendous-amount-of/)

[Arelis Calkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

[Explore all 7 Arelis Calkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arelis-calkins/)

## More Authenticity quotes

> [“the property that grounded the self in Romanticism was sincerity, and in modernism was authenticity, then in postmod ernism it is visibility.10”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-property-that-grounded-the-self-in-romanticism-was-sincerity-and/)

[Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/)

> [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [Real artists offer authenticity, not just money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhymefest/real-artists-offer-authenticity-not-just-money/)

[Rhymefest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhymefest/)

> [“I figure the more people think I'm just mildly weird, the less likely they are to know how weird I really am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-hooyenga/i-figure-the-more-people-think-i-m-just-mildly-weird-the-less-likely/)

[Melanie Hooyenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-hooyenga/)

> [I think people can read authenticity and they know when you're involved and when you're just slapping your name on something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-la-anthony/i-think-people-can-read-authenticity-and-they-know-when-you-re/)

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> [“I strive for authenticity even though it brings with it vulnerability and the inevitable judgment of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-r-w-lee/i-strive-for-authenticity-even-though-it-brings-with-it-vulnerability/)

[L.R.W. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-r-w-lee/)

> [Children go where they find sincerity and authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/children-go-where-they-find-sincerity-and-authenticity/)

[Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/)

> [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, focus your energy on what you can create.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/instead-of-worrying-about-what-you-cannot-control-focus-your-energy/)

[Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/)

> [Anything that I ever do is from the heart and authentic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-carlisle/anything-that-i-ever-do-is-from-the-heart-and-authentic/)

[Belinda Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-carlisle/)

> [What I love about Nivea is they're all about authenticity. The brand isn't pretending to be anything it isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-virtue/what-i-love-about-nivea-is-they-re-all-about-authenticity-the-brand/)

[Tessa Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-virtue/)

> [There is nothing which so certifies the genuineness of a man's faith as his patience and his patient endurance, his keeping on steadily in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-nothing-which-so-certifies-the-genuineness-of-a-man-s-faith/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you're really famous, there's very little authenticity in people, so you prefer the company of children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/when-you-re-really-famous-there-s-very-little-authenticity-in-people/)

[Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/)

> [“We could not be fulfilled if we weren't inauthentic some of the time—inauthentic, that is, in relation to such things as our passing desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-could-not-be-fulfilled-if-we-weren-t-inauthentic-some-of-the-time/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [No man knows the genuineness of his convictions until he has sacrificed something for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/no-man-knows-the-genuineness-of-his-convictions-until-he-has/)

[Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/)

[Browse all 1,437 Authenticity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authenticity/)

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