au·then·tic·i·ty

Authenticity has everything to do with walking your truth. Whatever that truth may be. I touched on this in a previous post, but I think it deserves a little more attention. There a lot of voices we hear, but many of it comes from our inner dialogue.

Here’s a little bit of what I battled while writing this post.

“It is a process,” says the voice of wisdom.

The whiny voice says,”Blech, processes take too long. It’s got to be easier than that!”

Followed by the mom voice,”Remember to defrost the chicken.”

“Shush!” says my blogging voice, “Stick to the topic! But yes, do not forget to take the chicken out of the freezer.”

My inner critic has me wondering if anything I say makes a difference in the world. I combat that inner critic with an “I hope so” and keep on hitting that “Publish” button.

What does it mean to be authentic?

It means being true to your values, your actions, and your spirit. It also means being honest with yourself and others. Authenticity allows us to silence the inner critic and be at peace.

Self-awareness leads us towards authenticity which can be a painful journey, but it’s not without hope or the rewards that follow. It’s painful because being honest with ourselves and others can be a challenge. Who am kidding? It is a challenge. It doesn’t mean we have to wallow in our faults or mistakes. We acknowledge, forgive and move the eff on. When we become truer to who we are at our core, it gives us the opportunity to be vulnerable and connect with others on a deeper level.

Reflection

What prevents you from being more authentic?

What fears or outside pressures do you have? Are they real or imagined?

What are your values?

Do your actions align with your values?

How do you behave when no one’s looking?