What does it mean to be authentic?
Your authentic self is who you are deep down. The part of you that doesn’t care what others think. Self-awareness is crucial for understanding how your true self affects your relationships.
Authenticity happens when your words, actions, and behaviours consistently match your core identity.
To be authentic, you must be aware of who you are and what you stand for, and you must express yourself honestly and consistently. When you betray yourself in order to fit in, you end up feeling isolated and alone. Feelings of guilt, shame, and low self-esteem are the result when you are not true to yourself.
7 ways you can be more authentic to yourself
1. ⭐Understand your core values
Ask yourself some direct questions. They can help you discover who you are when you are not putting on a mask or betraying your core values
What types of people, activities, or situations make you feel most alive?
Do you feel unhappy, angry, or toxic around certain people or parts of your life?
Prioritize the people and activities that bring you joy and meaning. A more authentic life may require you to walk away from unhealthy relationships and toxic situations.
2. ⭐Be Present
Being present with yourself is essential to authenticity, no matter what's going on around you. You won't know your own state of being if you're always distracted by your mental chatter or reacting to external situations.
1. Practice taking a pause to breathe
2. Check in with yourself regularly throughout the day
3. Strengthen your mindfulness and notice when you are being inauthentic.
3. ⭐Speak your truth—assertively
You can live a more authentic life by improving how you communicate. If you don't speak your truth you'll resort to sarcasm, dishonesty and passive aggressiveness.
1. Expressing your needs honestly with confidence
2. Active listening
3. Being present in the moment
4. Being able to say NO
Treat people equally to understand the importance of being treated equally.
4. ⭐Fake = fear
A fundamental fear of rejection, humiliation, or punishment drives the urge to appear to be someone we're not. By overcoming this fear of “what people will think”, you can make better decisions about who you truly are.
5. ⭐Set those boundaries
Boundaries are there to protect the real you. It's easy to stray from who you really are when your boundaries aren't set properly. Not only do these loose boundaries harm your personal space but also waste your time.
Set boundaries with your partner, friends, family and colleagues by limiting your time, energy, emotions, and personal space. Do it respectfully while being assertive.
6. ⭐Face yourself
Learn from everything, be open to yourself, and don't lie to yourself. Face your strengths and weaknesses equally. You should be able to assess your situation without being overly critical and unkind. Look at yourself like a wholesome being with flaws and strengths. Embrace them.
7. ⭐Find your influences
If you want to know how to be your true self, it helps to distinguish between inner motivations and external influences. Internal motivators are those drives and desires that come from deep within, whereas external motivators are factors, like money, status, recognition, or expectations from other people.
Ask yourself these questions:
Do I feel pressured by other people into taking this step?
What do I want to accomplish with this goal?
Is this truly what I want? Listen to your gut.
Living your authentic life can feel easier in some situations than in others.
Learning to be authentic will take courage. But when you do, you'll liberate yourself and start to create a life that fulfils you. It might not happen overnight as it's a muscle you build. keep working on small goals and you'll get there.
Ruchi Ruuh is a relationship counsellor who helps people form meaningful and secure relationships with themselves and others.
Agree ..Some nice pointers there to stay authentic and help