Amplifying your most authentic self with Rianne Klein Geltink
- Patricia Abarte
- May 17
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 14
Your authentic self is the version of you that exists underneath expectations, labels, and social conditioning. In today’s fast-moving world, reconnecting with your authentic self can feel difficult, especially when life constantly asks you to adapt, perform, and fit in. Yet the more connected you are to your authentic self, the more confident, magnetic, and fulfilled you become.
In this episode of This Expat Life, Rianne Klein Geltink shares powerful insights about identity, self-expression, and what it truly means to live as your authentic self. Her message is simple but transformative: the most magnetic version of you is your authentic self.
Listen to the episode here:
Timestamps:
00:00 – Guest intro: Rianne Klein Geldink on authentic self-expression
02:03 – Who is the being behind the doing?
05:24 – What language reveals about culture and self
08:07 – Masks vs. spotlighting: a key distinction
12:16 – The Dutch word vanzelf: what flows from your true self
19:13 – Why we fear turning up the volume on what makes us us
28:53 – The Dutch word voorpret: anticipating joy instead of anxiety
34:44 – Applying voorpret to expat life and high-stakes moments
43:07 – Authenticity vs. oversharing: an important distinction
48:00 – Final tip: be at the cause, not the effect, of your life
Why Your Authentic Self Matters
Many people spend years shaping themselves around societal expectations. Over time, these expectations create layers that disconnect people from their authentic self. We learn what to say, how to behave, and how to present ourselves in ways that gain approval. While some adaptation is healthy, too much of it can make you lose touch with your authentic self.
Your authentic self is not something you need to create. Your authentic self already exists within you. The challenge is learning to recognize the difference between who you truly are and the masks you have learned to wear.
Rianne explains that every person enters the world uniquely designed to express their authentic self. No one else can replicate your perspective, your energy, or your voice. That uniqueness is your strength.
The Journey Back to Your Authentic Self
Reconnecting with your authentic self often begins with self-awareness. Many people reach a point in life where they start asking deeper questions:
Who am I beneath my roles?
What parts of me are real?
What parts of me are conditioned?
What does my authentic self actually want?
These questions are uncomfortable, but they are necessary. The journey toward your authentic self is not about becoming someone new. It is about removing the layers that hide who you already are.
One of the most powerful tools Rianne discusses is language. The way you speak about yourself reveals how connected you are to your authentic self. Your words carry patterns, beliefs, and emotional truths. By paying attention to your language, you can begin identifying where you are living from your authentic self and where you are still operating from fear or conditioning.
Authentic Self Expression Creates Connection
When people express their authentic self, they naturally create stronger relationships and deeper trust. Authenticity allows people to feel safe, seen, and understood.
This is especially important for expats, entrepreneurs, and global citizens who often navigate different cultures, environments, and expectations. Constant change can make it easy to disconnect from your authentic self in an attempt to fit in.
But true belonging does not come from changing yourself. True belonging comes from honoring your authentic self while connecting with others.
According to Rianne, authenticity is magnetic because people can sense when someone is genuine. Your authentic self does not need to force connection. Your authentic self naturally attracts the right opportunities, relationships, and experiences.
How to Strengthen Your Authentic Self
If you want to reconnect with your authentic self, start small. Notice where you feel most relaxed, energized, and honest. Pay attention to moments where you feel pressure to perform or hide.
Here are a few ways to strengthen your authentic self:
Practice self-awareness daily.
Notice the language you use about yourself.
Spend time reflecting on what truly matters to you.
Stop seeking validation for every decision.
Allow yourself to evolve without abandoning your authentic self.
Your authentic self will not always match what others expect. However, the more you trust your authentic self, the more aligned your life becomes.
Final Thoughts on Your Authentic Self
Living as your authentic self is an ongoing journey. There is no finish line, perfect formula, or single breakthrough moment. Instead, reconnecting with your authentic self happens through small daily choices that bring you closer to who you truly are.
Rianne’s message reminds us that authenticity is not about perfection. It is about honesty, alignment, and courage. Your authentic self is already within you. The goal is simply to let it lead.
The more you embrace your authentic self, the more freedom, confidence, and connection you create in your life.
This is what I dive into in episode #105 of This Expat Life.
Listen here:
If any of these notes resonated with you, and you would like to explore more of yourself, my programs are the right containers for you to accelerate your growth or your next chapter:
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