I saw a great example of authentic allyship on Instagram recently. The video clip was of a White woman protesting when a reporter asked her why the protests weren't more diverse, code for "why aren't more Black people out here."

Without missing a beat, the woman very calmly explained that it's not safe for Black people to be out protesting ICE and the other travesties this administration is inflicting on its own people because they would be the first to be harassed, shot, arrested, killed.

The woman's clarity and authenticity flowed freely because, I surmise, protesting is aligned with who she is, a significant but little discussed aspect of authentic allyship - the only kind the really moves the needle.

Taking to the streets and speaking confidently about the unsafe dynamics precluding Black people from protesting is not for every ally. It's counterproductive to have a prescribed, pre-approved list of ways allies can and must show up; and one of the reasons some allies go silent and do nothing. And a silent, inactive ally actually does more harm than good because they are necessary to help move this country forward.

The country actually needs their energy now - more than it does following the murder of a Black person. It was encouraging to see the throngs of White people protesting after George Floyd was murdered, but that's reactionary allyship. By virtue of it being a reactive measure, it only gets activated when something horrible occurs, and the current silence and inactivity of many of those protestors is proof of its ineffectiveness.

Authentic allies don't wait for something horrible to occur because they realize their presence can prevent unspeakable injustices from happening in the first place. So while authentic allyship certainly includes intervention and restorative efforts, it is more heavily invested in prevention.

What exactly is authentic allyship?

Authentic allyship is a mindset, a vibe; it's a consciousness that doesn't come and go. It is ever present and aligned with a person's being. A person doesn't become an ally; they reveal its energy by creating space for it to flow freely, unapologetically and with intention. They get honest with themselves to first identify limitations blocking the full expression of their allyship, and more importantly, they get busy removing those limitations.

I've discovered seven key principles associated with authentic allyship. This list is by no means exhaustive, but these seven constitute a solid foundation from which the others emerge. These seven are an effective place for people trying to figure it out to lean into and better comprehend how their own individual allyship is meant to function. The seven flow naturally into and support each other.

Authentic allyship is an inside-out process. When your allyship is externally focused and you look to others for how you should show up, your actions are more likely to be performative and therefore temporary and reactive. Approaching allyship from the inside-out empowers you to identify and fully own your lane - and occupy it courageously, unapologetically and intentionally. If you're an authentic ally whose lane is teaching elementary school children, for example, make sure they all know they're worthy. Challenge and offer solutions to dismantle systemic racism, like the school-to-prison pipeline.

Authentic allyship is subjective. There is no checklist for allies to follow to determine whether you're doing it right. Authentic allyship flows from within and informs allies of what is yours to do. Authentic allyship isn't new. If you need ideas for how to activate yours, there is very likely a predecessor with your same skill set, passions and interests who used them to advocate for people unlike them. Beyond that, trust your higher self to determine how you're meant to show up, then show up.

Authentic allyship is spiritually grounded. It's inherent in the truth that we're all spiritual beings having a human experience. It is deeply aligned with and flows from love and higher consciousness, devoid of ego, political ideology and human trappings pitting one against the other. Being informs doing and your spiritual nature is rooted in goodness, integrity, compassion.

Authentic allyship is impactful. It not only changes you, but its example changes others by awakening them to their own unique allyship. It plants seeds of allyship within children and not only teaches them how to advocate for others, but that they should. It gives others permission to speak up. To be more. To do more. It illumines lesser known, but equally important avenues through which authentic allyship can flow.

Authentic allyship is self-validating. Looking to others to commend your actions is disempowering. Needing them to salute your behavior is an indication that you're being performative, not authentic. Looking for external validation and not receiving it sucks the air out of your efforts because that's what they were filled with - air, not substance. Authentic allies don't need an invitation to show up where they're needed because it's what your higher self guides you to do. You do the right thing even when - especially when - no one is watching because doing the right thing is always the right thing to do.

Authentic allyship is revelatory. It reveals aspects of yourself you haven't already discovered. It awakens curiosity, which awakens imagination, which awakens the limitless possibilities available to use your allyship. It reveals that living from the consciousness of your higher self is easier than you thought and actually feels good. It shines a light on how your privilege benefits you, but instead of inspiring guilt, it reveals how to use it to benefit others. Ultimately, it introduces you to opportunities to travel outside of the comfort zone your privilege affords.

Authentic allyship is purposeful. You are meant to be here, now, advocating for America to finally right its racial wrongs. Abolitionists existed when they did because they were instrumental to ending slavery. White civil rights activists were meant to exist when they did to help dismantle Jim Crow. The presence of authentic allies has always been critical to moving this country forward.

That hasn't changed.

To have the ability to drop your pebble of allyship into the collective ocean of change - and choose not to - makes you a part of the problem, not the solution. For America to have come this far and still have so far to go is confirmation that you are meant to be here now, and you are significant to this country's healing.