Nowadays, everyone is talking about authenticity. But what does it mean to be authentic? There are lots of ways to describe authenticity, but the most common way we think about it—and the one that matters the most—is whether or not someone is being themselves. You might know someone who seems nice and kind on the outside but then you see something completely different from them when they're with other people. That's not being authentic at all! In this post we'll talk about how important it is for you to be yourself online and off so no one will ever get tricked into believing that you're fake or untrue.
Pushing for perfection in many aspects of my life and work.
I have struggled with perfectionism my entire life. In fact, I would argue that it has held me back from enjoying many of the wonderful aspects of life because I’ve been too busy focusing on being perfect.
Perfectionism is a form of control, and it is a disease that needs to be treated. But what does it mean to be an authentic person? How can we be authentic without succumbing to the pressures of society? Let’s look at some ways you can practice authenticity:
Take care of your mental health by finding healthy ways to express yourself and connect with others
Don't compare yourself to others – we're all unique individuals so let's celebrate our differences! When you start comparing yourself negatively against someone else, stop immediately and refocus on what makes YOU special
Think about how your actions affect other people before making decisions; this will help ensure that you are making choices based on what's best for everyone involved rather than just yourself
Feeling I never measured up.
You may have felt like you never measured up to your parents, siblings or peers.
You might have felt like you were not good enough.
It might have seemed like no matter how hard you tried, there was always a part of yourself that could be improved upon.
Perhaps you thought that success and intelligence were only attainable by the most fortunate people in the world. Maybe even attractiveness was something only some lucky few achieved—and if it weren't for those special few who had been born with it, then everyone else would be stuck in their own mediocre way of life forevermore!
Constantly doubting myself.
Constantly doubting myself.
I doubted my ability to show up authentically.
I doubted my ability to express myself.
I doubted I could be vulnerable.
And I even doubted that I could be myself!
Fearing if I showed up authentically that people would judge me.
When I was younger, I felt a lot of shame around my authentic self. I feared if I showed up authentically that people would judge me.
I didn't want to be rejected so it was easier for me to pretend than show up in my true self and risk being judged by others.
In order for us to grow and be more effective as leaders and human beings, we have to get comfortable with being seen as weak at times. It's part of the process of letting go of our ego and finding our true authentic selves.
Resisting being vulnerable with the people I care about and myself.
I have struggled to be vulnerable with people I care about, myself and the world around me.
I have been afraid of being vulnerable because I was afraid of rejection and judgement. I have also been afraid that if I show my true self then people may not accept who I am as a person.
Running on autopilot for most of my life, believing that I had no choice but to live in pain and suffering to continue struggling with depression and anxiety.
I was running on autopilot for most of my life, believing that I had no choice but to live in pain and suffering to continue struggling with depression and anxiety. I was afraid of change for most of my life.
It wasn't until I started understanding the mind-body connection in a different way that helped me realize that I could begin making changes in my life so long as they aligned with my values, purpose, and vision.
Fearing that if I let go of struggle and pain, letting go of my identity will disappear too. My fear of change is what kept me stuck in this vicious cycle.
You may be afraid of letting go of struggle and pain, letting go of your identity. Your fear of change is what kept you stuck in this vicious cycle.
Honoring my depression and anxiety by authentically showing up every single day in a way that feels good, aligning with my values, honoring my needs, celebrating progress along the way has been the key to my success so far and will continue to be important for the rest of my life.
This can be such a difficult journey, and I hope that my story has provided you with some comfort and inspiration. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed by depression or anxiety right now, it might feel like there’s no way out of the pain. But trust me: there is always hope! The key is to get curious about what would make your life more meaningful and joyful—and then go after it with all your heart.
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