Being Authentic In a world that often emphasizes conformity and imitation, the journey to authenticity stands as a beacon of individuality and self-fulfillment. Being authentic means embracing your true self, aligning with your values, interests, and beliefs, and rejecting the urge to mimic others. This pursuit of authenticity is not only about personal integrity but also about realizing your unique potential and finding genuine happiness. By choosing to be authentic, you liberate yourself from the exhausting task of pretending and step into a life that resonates deeply with who you truly are. Being authentic means you get to play a role in this world that is true to you, that does not contradict your values, your interests, or your beliefs. Being authentic means that there is only one of you in the world. It means that you’re not trying to copy someone else or pretending to be someone you’re not. You are genuine, real, and you do what feels right to you. In contrast, if you are inauthentic and try to mimic someone else in the way you talk, walk, dress, and act, it doesn’t quite feel right and burdens you with the job of keeping up with pretending to be someone you are not. This stems from the false idea that, in order to be liked, you must be anyone else but yourself, because you believe in your own mind that you are utterly unlovable. Being authentic requires a decision to embrace who you are and fall in love with who you are. It also requires learning who you are, what your interests are, what you like to do, how you like to dress, and being unapologetic or not afraid or ashamed to show that side to the world. As a teenager back in middle school, I thought that some popular girls in my class were cool. I tried to be close to them, be with them, dress like them, speak like them, mimic their beliefs, but when I was coming home I felt that I was not being genuine. That is why trying to replicate someone else only creates a replica and you are not embracing your own unique personality. Why is it important to be authentic? It is important because only then will you be able to fulfill your true potential, make a difference in the world that only you can make, communicate messages of light to other people that only you can communicate, feel incredibly fulfilled by being able to be who you truly are, and feel happy in the knowledge that you are living your own life, not the life of someone else. We see it all too often that when you don’t speak from the heart, people tend to not fully believe you. People can see right through the mask, the tone of voice is not genuine. In your own experience you would be less attracted to that person because you know they are not being truthful. It’s okay to try on different roles to see if a certain image fits you, but in the process of doing that, ask yourself if it feels right to you. Are you stepping on your own toes or contradicting your own beliefs while trying to find what appeals to you? Also, ask yourself if you are doing this for yourself or if you are trying to make someone else happy by accepting that role. Always choose yourself first. So here are some tips to pay attention to when you’re still in the stage of finding yourself: – Start paying more attention to what you do, how you do it, and what you say. Increase your self-awareness. Always ask yourself if you are coming from a true place inside of you or if you are coming from a place you’ve learned. – Stop saying “I don’t know.” Because you do. Speak your truth. If you have an opinion on something, voice it. – Be okay with the idea that not everyone will accept you for who you are, but the people who do will become your raving fans. – Stop saying yes to everyone. Only say yes if you truly mean it. Being liked by people is in our nature. We all want to be liked and loved and we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. You need to be okay with the idea that you simply have a very limited supply of energy and time, so spend that limited resource wisely and dedicate it only to people who will make a difference in your life. If you say no to someone, it’s not going to be the end of the world. They will accept it, understand it, and move on. In the end, they will find their help in other ways. – Pay attention to the masks you might be wearing. When you force something upon yourself that is not you, you’re creating resistance that lowers your vibration and therefore you are not able to live your authentic life that brings you happiness. – Being vulnerable is just a part of it. Yes, a lot of us have been hurt in the past and that is why we sometimes like to hide ourselves behind those masks. However, when you open yourself up, you are opening yourself up to receive new experiences, people, and abundance. Opening up requires being okay if something doesn’t work out. It requires the knowledge that if something doesn’t work out, you simply get up and continue your journey. If you are afraid to take the mask off because of fear that people will not accept you for who you are, then you will continue making connections that are not genuine, that don’t bring you fulfillment, that don’t feed your spiritual side, and that don’t make a difference in your life. Being vulnerable is actually a trait of power. When you are strong enough to take that mask off and show the world your genuine side, that act requires some strength. It means you are ready to take the risks of not being liked and you’re okay with it. If someone doesn’t accept you for who you are, you just turn your back and walk away from that person. And it’s okay to do that. Not everyone is going to like you, so please accept that. And please be okay with that. Don’t let them get to you. It’s just part of life. Just forget that it happened and walk away from that person. Release these people out of your system. Your world is so much better without them. Don’t’ hide behind your phone. Be present. Not being present is inauthentic. No one, and I say this again, no one is perfect. I’m going to quote Brené Brown: “To be authentic, we must cultivate the courage to be imperfect – and vulnerable. We have to believe that we are fundamentally worthy of love and acceptance, just as we are.” Check in with yourself and ask yourself these questions: – Are you looking for other people’s approval to feel valued? – Are you judgmental of other people? – Is it hard for you to express your emotions freely? – Are you closed to learning from your own mistakes? – Do you think things through clearly before you say them? – Are you defensive in your attitude? If you answered yes to these questions, it’s not the end of the world. It just means you have a little more work to do on yourself. The hardest part is getting started. Paying attention to how you act or react, which is part of being defensive, will help you find the clues on where you need to improve. Inner guidance is a thread throughout the entire process. Being authentic measures against that inner guidance mechanism that is already inside of you. The world already has multiple examples reflecting tastes, behavior patterns, and styles of clothing. A lot of times we are only making choices out of the existing options. This is a learnable process. When I was selecting my own style, I picked the best parts and elements that appealed the most to me. I made the decision that red lipstick would be my signature look. I decided that a leather jacket would give me a more powerful impact when going outside. I also decided that wearing high heels would make me feel a little more sexy in the way that I present myself to the world. I made those decisions based on what appealed to me, based on what felt right to me, and also did not contradict my values as a human being. You will go through the same process of checking things with your inner guidance system to decide what’s right for you. We all are different and unique, and that’s what makes us so special. We are masterpieces of our own life. Our authenticity expresses itself in the way we talk, the way we dress, the way we carry ourselves, the choices we make, the words we say, the actions we take, the things we indulge in, and the beliefs we follow. In order to be confident, you first must be authentic. I am teaching you confidence from the inside out. You can’t just put a mask of confidence over yourself and pretend that you are it. You have to fully soak it in, believe in it, and be passionate about it in order to claim it in front of your audience as your own truth. Because it will be. If you were just wearing a mask of confidence, you would not own it. I want you to feel it in every cell of your body. I want you to embody your authentic self, speak your own truth, measure it against your own values, and claim it as your very own unique piece of character. Embracing authenticity is a powerful act of self-acceptance and courage. It allows you to connect with your true self, build meaningful relationships, and live a life that reflects your unique essence. By shedding the masks of inauthenticity and vulnerability, you open yourself to new experiences and genuine connections that enrich your life. Remember, authenticity is a journey that requires continuous self-awareness, honesty, and the courage to be imperfect. As you navigate this path, let your inner guidance lead the way, knowing that your authenticity is your greatest strength and your most valuable gift to the world.
