The Power of Authenticity blog
Welcome!
Do you wish you had more power and purpose in your life? Are you feeling burned out in a job that doesn’t fit who you are? Do you long to lead an authentic life but don’t know how?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you probably suffer from “Suppressed Superpower Syndrome.” To fit in with others, you buried your unique gifts in the unconscious and forgot who you truly are. I’m here to help you to take your power back!
This blog will take you on a journey to reclaim your one-of-a-kind superpowers and succeed in life by being the total rock star you were meant to be.
After teaching creativity workshops for 20 years, I know for certain that you were born with a unique purpose and special gifts to fulfill it that no one else in the world can express like you. Your innate skills and passions are your superpowers. When you dance to your own music, you naturally develop these intrinsic talents and excel in work and life.
But when you’re forced to conform to someone else’s idea of who you should be, it throws off your groove.
Using psychology, music, and client success stories, I will help you shake off your self-limiting beliefs, discover your unique talents and skills, build the courage to go after your dreams, persist through setbacks, and rock your career and life.
Yeah, it’s a big promise, I know, but I think we can do it! Don’t you?
I have a good track record.
From Professor to Rock Star
Years ago when I was a psychology professor, I felt deeply empty, despite my success. I loved my students but the truth was, I wanted to sing in a rock-n-roll band.
“Ridiculous,” a voice that sounded a lot like my mother’s screamed inside my head. For one, it would mean I had wasted four years at Princeton getting my Ph.D. in psychology. For another, I was too old. How could I change now, wasn’t it too late?
I kept thinking about how happy my students were whenever I gave them permission to be their true selves. Within a year, I left my solid teaching position to follow my dream to be a rock star! My songs have been on the charts, and I’ve helped thousands of participants find their superpowers and rock their lives too.
Now that’s my superpower. What’s yours? Not sure? That’s OK – that’s what this blog is for!
Posted by Michelle Chappel on February 12, 2020 in True Self | 1 comment
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Many people remain single, some of us settle for less, and a few “lucky” folks thrive in good relationships. What makes the difference? In my experience, true love comes knocking at your door when you stop looking for it outside of yourself, and focus on accepting yourself for who you are—warts and all—instead.
Do you remember Gina from our “Embrace Your Inner Weirdo” blog? She was the frustrated receptionist who collected stuffed animals and watched “Beauty and the...
read more
Posted by Michelle Chappel on November 30, 2019 in True Self | 0 comments
Are you jonesing for a better life but rarely let yourself dream about what you really want? Or do you know what you want but hesitate to take a step toward that brighter future? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Whenever I ask my workshop participants to envision their ideal future they often draw a blank, even though they signed up for the class because they felt ready to change their life. Weird, right?
The truth is, most of us don’t answer the call to be our magnificent selves. We stay paralyzed in lives that don’t suit...
read more
Posted by Michelle Chappel on October 31, 2019 in True Self | 0 comments
Today is Halloween. Sure, you could go as the usual suspects—pirates and vampires—but why not do something different this year? Instead of disguising yourself as someone else, grab the opportunity to break out of a worn-out role and express your true self.
Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t answer our true callings and go after our heartfelt dreams because we’re scared. What if we crash and burn? And by that I mean, we lose all our friends, our money runs out and we end up homeless, unable to afford even a...
read more
Posted by Michelle Chappel on October 6, 2019 in True Self | 0 comments
Our superpowers make themselves known to us when we’re children, teenagers, and young adults. But often we forget about them later in life because our parents and teachers ignore, minimize, or even attack our authentic natures. According to Brené Brown, 42% of kids are shamed away from pursuing some form of creative expression in school.
“Pamela” was a 40-year-old wife and mother who took my creativity workshop because she yearned to be an author. Both her husband and son wrote fiction, but she couldn’t jot down a single word. She...
read more
Posted by Michelle Chappel on September 25, 2019 in True Self | 0 comments
After teaching creativity and self-actualization workshops for 20 years, I can tell you with certainty that you were born with a creative gift that no one else in the world can express like you. Your innate skills and passions are your superpowers. When you dance to your own music, you naturally develop these intrinsic talents and excel in work and life. You are a total rock star.
But when you’re forced to conform to someone else’s idea of who you should be, it throws off your groove. You’re either unaware of your individual aptitudes...
read more
Posted by Michelle Chappel on September 9, 2019 in True Self | 0 comments
How do you know when you’re using your superpowers? Time disappears. No drugs necessary! Whenever I write a song, I seclude myself in my studio and emerge several hours later feeling content and spaced-out with a new tune that seems to have written itself. Time seems to vanish.
I close the door, pick up my guitar, and emerge several hours later feeling content and spaced out. I feel as though I am one with my guitar, my microphone, my voice…they all merge together to form a seamless blissful experience. As Lao Tzu, author of the Tao Te...
read more
Posted by Michelle Chappel on September 3, 2019 in True Self | 0 comments
“There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” ~ Nelson Mandela
One of the best ways to discover your superpower is to notice what fills you with passion and curiosity—not your parents, teachers, or friends—but YOU. But be willing to experiment to find it. Your superpower isn’t always what you think it will be.
My client “Jane” was a burned-out Fortune 500 executive who longed for a creative outlet after her workday ended to balance out her life. She assumed it...
read more
Posted by Michelle Chappel on August 30, 2019 in True Self | 0 comments
Your superpowers are right in front of you but you may not see them. They come so easily to you that you take them for granted. You think everyone has them, too. They don’t.
I didn’t realize I had musical talent until I was forced to compare myself to other graduate students during a music perception test at Princeton (where I was studying to get a Ph.D. in psychology). I was surprised to learn I’d scored off the charts. That discovery led me to ditch my career as a psychology professor and follow my dream to become a rock star a few...
read more
Posted by Michelle Chappel on November 25, 2014 in Creativity | 10 comments
According to Charles Whitfield, author of “Healing the Child Within,” 80 to 95% of us grew up in dysfunctional families. Don’t worry, at least you know you’re not alone! You also have options.
Thanksgiving can be a truly joyful time of year, but it can also be stressful for those of us with families who push our buttons. Many blogs offer tips for how to make room for extra food in the fridge and not undercook the turkey to curb anxiety.
Instead here are three creative ways to reduce stress and increase well-being by handling...
read more
Posted by Michelle Chappel on March 5, 2014 in True Self | 11 comments
Are you feeling stuck or unsure of what to do next with your life? Odds are your true calling is right in front of you but you miss it because you’re looking for it in the wrong place. All you need to do to “see” it clearly is change your perspective.
This was certainly true for “Maria,” a woman in her late 40s who took one of my first creativity workshops. Frankly, Maria scared the bejesus out of me. She stood about six feet tall, had fiery red hair, and seemed to be very angry about something. I noticed right...
read more
Follow Michelle!