Being Authentic Can Be Hard

I just celebrated my birthday. This year we went to Las Vegas to see Cirque du Soleil and ate amazing food.

Birthdays can give us the chance to take personal inventories and reflect on the past year and think about what’s next. For me, it’s important to look at how true to myself, that is, authentic, I was this year. That doesn’t mean I have to blurt my truth out everywhere I go. It means I have to be in an honest relationship with myself first and then make wise decisions about how I move in the world, maintaining integrity and boundaries at the same time.

Most of us don’t like it when someone acts one way in front of others and differently in private. We see them as putting on a show and being phony. I love being with people and in situations that feel genuine. Maybe you would like to express yourself in more honest ways and move beyond what holds you back from being more real yourself and others.

We know some of the reasons we don’t allow ourselves to be authentic:

  • We don’t want to be judged by others
  • We want to fit in and be part of the group
  • We want to be safe and not vulnerable

Being authentic is difficult for all of us because it means we have to be open and truthful about 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.

Most of all, being more authentic means being more vulnerable. When we feel vulnerable, we can experience moments of doubt about what others will think of us. No one wants to feel like an outsider or feel like they fail to measure up to those around them.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. When we’re being more authentic we can 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 when we choose to be authentic.

An Authentic Life Has Its RewardsAuthentic Life

Living life authentically has its upside:

  • You trust yourself more
  • You get free from other people’s expectations of you
  • Your clarity about who you are brings you peace of mind

Only when we’re real will we take risks and go for what we truly want. Then we can tap into the hidden power that comes with being and expressing our true selves.

What does being authentic mean to you? Where do you struggle with being authentic? When do you feel most authentic? Comment below or send me a personal email.

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