Day in the life of a Filipina Nurse Practitioner

Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to the vlog.

Today feels a little different. A little deeper. A little more intentional.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my brand lately—not in the aesthetic, curated, social media kind of way—but in the who am I, really? kind of way. And more importantly, what does it actually mean for me to live authentically?

Because here’s the truth: authenticity gets thrown around a lot.
“Just be yourself.”
“Live your truth.”
“Show up fully.”

And yes—I agree with all of that. But for me, there’s a caveat.

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Authenticity Is a Choice—Not a Performance

Living authentically doesn’t mean giving everyone full access to you.

For me, it means being true to my values, my beliefs, and my inner voice—but also being intentional about who I share that version of myself with.

Not everyone gets full access.

And that doesn’t make me fake.
That makes me self-aware.

I’ve learned that I don’t want to be fully myself around people who are annoyed by my personality, who don’t understand me, or who make me feel like I need to shrink.

Authenticity, for me, is:

• Choosing environments where I feel safe
• Choosing people who uplift me
• Choosing spaces where I don’t have to perform

Because yes—there are different versions of me.
And no—they’re not all meant for everyone.

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The Nurse Practitioner vs. The Person

Lately, I’ve been sharing more about my life as a nurse practitioner—and it’s been eye-opening.

People listen differently now.
My voice feels… valued.

And honestly? That surprised me.

Because outside of work, I’ve often been seen as:

• Easygoing
• Chill
• Not too serious
• Maybe even… not that smart

And I’ll be real—that’s partly by design.

I’ve spent so much of my life trying not to be intimidating. Trying to be approachable. Trying to make others comfortable.

But in my practice, I show up differently:

• I listen deeply
• I ask questions
• I honor my patients’ stories

Because to me, being a provider isn’t about authority—it’s about understanding.

I don’t believe in that “I know more than you” dynamic.
I believe in meeting people where they are.

And maybe that is my authenticity—just expressed differently depending on the space.

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When Authenticity Gets Challenged

There was a moment during a trip that really changed how I see this.

I was told—repeatedly—to “tone it down.”
To be quieter. Less expressive. Less… me.

At first, I laughed it off.

But over time, it started to feel like I was being silenced.

And that’s when it hit me:

Living authentically also means walking away from spaces where you’re asked to shrink.

Even if it’s uncomfortable.
Even if it means losing people.
Even if it means admitting, “This isn’t right for me.”

Because I’ve learned the hard way—
staying in those spaces? That’s not authenticity. That’s performance.

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Authenticity vs. Performance

Let’s be honest—we all perform sometimes.

At work. In professional settings. In unfamiliar environments.

And that’s okay.

There are moments where performance is necessary—especially when it’s not about you, but about the role you carry and the people you serve.

But outside of that?

I don’t want to live a life where I’m constantly performing.

Because if you’re always performing…
are you really living?

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You Don’t Need Permission to Be Yourself

This one took me a long time to learn.

Authenticity isn’t:

• Waiting for validation
• Seeking approval
• Asking, “Is this okay?”

Authenticity is:
giving yourself permission.

Permission to:

• Speak
• Feel
• Change
• Grow

Even now, sharing these thoughts publicly feels vulnerable.

There’s always that voice like,
“What are people going to think?”

But I’m not here to be understood by everyone.

I’m here to be honest.

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Choosing Your People

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned?

Not everyone deserves your vulnerability.

Being seen is powerful—but it’s also risky.

There’s a line from On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous that stayed with me:

To be seen is to be vulnerable… but it also means you can be hurt.

And that’s why authenticity isn’t about showing everything to everyone.

It’s about choosing:

• Who gets to see you
• Who gets to hear you
• Who gets to hold space for you

Your tribe isn’t just the people you laugh with.
It’s the people who stay when things get heavy.

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Growth Is Part of Authenticity

I’m not the same person I was a few years ago.

Honestly—I’m not even the same person I was a few months ago.

And that’s the point.

Living authentically means allowing yourself to evolve:

• To outgrow people
• To change your mind
• To redefine who you are

This blog, these videos—they’re a reflection of that growth.

A reminder that my voice has always been there…
I just needed to give myself permission to use it.

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Final Thoughts: Living Fully, Not Perfectly

If there’s one thing I want you to take from this, it’s this:

Living authentically isn’t about being fully exposed.
It’s about being fully aligned.

Aligned with:

• Your values
• Your boundaries
• Your truth

You don’t owe the world your full story.

But you do owe yourself the freedom to live it.

So ask yourself:

If you stripped away expectations…
If you stopped performing…
If you stopped asking for permission…

Would you finally feel free?

Because that’s where I’m headed.

And for the first time in a long time—
it feels like me.