FOCUS ON AUTHENTICITY: Seeing and Living More of Who You Really Are
What would the world be like if everyone could safely express themselves honestly, revealing who they are and what they feel? What if we didn’t have to speak, act and think as our family, friends, media and society expect?
We would be living in a world of true authenticity.
Being authentic in life is difficult because it means we have to be open and truthful with who we really are. It means we have to be conscious of our thoughts and feelings, our hopes and fears, and risk the disapproval of others when pursuing our dreams and passions.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. When we’re being more authentic we feel more connected to who we are at our core. We can avoid living a divided life where our words, choices, and actions are not in line with our true selves. We can express ourselves more fully and with more confidence.
To be more authentic:
- Show up fully, with integrity, in each moment. Don’t censor yourself, and don’t let perfectionism constrict your self-expression.
- Let your outer self be defined by your the inner self.
- Don’t trade authenticity for social approval. Be, don’t seem. If you act inauthentically in order to be loved, then it’s not you that’s being loved.
Focusing on authenticity is not stagnant: it is a constant ongoing process. If we truly believe in living an authentic life, then we must continually be learning about ourselves, challenging old beliefs, sorting through our baggage. It is about learning to face fears and doubts, to be able to reach deeply within ourselves to find out what makes our heart sing, our spirit soar. It is finding where our authentic self feels the most alive, free and unburdened — and then having the courage to live and lead from this place.
