If you were a used car, would you be certified, pre-owned or on the "discount" lot?

For those of you who know me, you know that I am a big fan of the Daily OM. So when I read this particular entry Under the Hood: Importance of Looking Deeper (published on my birthday no less) I was very grateful to the universe for providing the clear analogy:

It's as if we've washed the surface of our car without taking the time to check under the hood. We may appear to be in great shape, but if we aren't engaging in the deep, inner work of self-examination, the chances are good that we are not deeply aware of the real substance of our lives.

It's an often made statement to look "deeper within" (beyond the "shine") but we often don't really take the time to check in with ourselves and self-reflect (look under our own hood) about how our life is really running. It's funny how we take care of our cars for regular tune ups and demand a CarFax report before purchasing a used one because we have been warned that a shiny car can turn out to be a lemon.

So I began to question how much time I set aside to "look under my hood". I then thought about how much value our society places on the "shiny" aspects of life rather than on the inner workings of who we truly are; our deeper self. It reinforced that we'd probably be more fulfilled if we set aside some time to self-reflect and make sure we're living a life that is authentic and in alignment with our values.

It's easy to say, "Oh, just buff the scratch and put another coat of wax on it." But that is just hiding the problem underneath. What would it take to be more mindful and authentic? How much more fruitful would our lives be if we took more time to self-reflect throughout our journeys? How much better would our relationships with others be if we act from a place of authenticity?

At the end of the day does it really matter how great the car looks if the engine is in poor condition?

So what's your commitment to looking under the hood and leading a more authentic life? Leave them below.