Are you living an authentic life? How can you overcome fears of rejection or the pressure to live up to social expectations? Discover how to define and live by your genuine values, beliefs, and desires.

1 – What is Authenticity?

Authenticity is the state of living according to genuine values, desires, feelings, and beliefs. Authentic people may conform to some social standards, but only ones aligned with their morals.

Personal Integrity

Being consistent in your behavior encourages people to trust you. We never know what’s happening inside other people, but it’s reassuring when actions match words.

You can change your mind, but being dependable makes it easier for  people to trust you. You won’t change your beliefs to please the crowd or do only what’s convenient.

Benefits of Authenticity

Honesty allows you to freely express and accept yourself. You don’t get as sidetracked by activities that don’t serve you. You intentionally choose people and experiences that resonate with you.

Risks of Being Inauthentic

Following the herd may seem like a good idea until you realize they’ll go off a cliff. If you don’t tell your mind what to think, other people will. Trust your own informed opinion more than other people’s.

Many people have lived their entire lives according to someone else’s values. They never know what they genuinely think or feel about things. They live out someone else’s dream without enjoying it.

2 – Cultivating Self-Awareness

Building self-awareness helps you know what to be authentic about. One study shows that only 10-15% of people are self-aware. Very few people know and live according to their actual values.

Many of our beliefs are based on social standards or convenience. Examining values and priorities is essential for choosing people or situations we want to experience.

Authentic Goals

Passion, priorities, and promises shape our goals and standards. Don’t take jobs because they fit someone else’s idea of success. Avoid chasing fame or status symbols that don’t align with you.

Values and Beliefs

Identify your core principles and what means the most to you. Values are the fuel for action and beliefs fire up motivation. Ask yourself questions to learn how you feel about various views.

Habits and Personality

Record or journal what you do, think, feel, and say every day. These contexts become the basis for your personal reality. Train your habits to align with your authentic goals.

Analyze your personality type, traits, and temperament. They give you clues about your strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies. Only give attention to what resonates and feels true about you.

3 – Practicing Self-Compassion

Have compassion for yourself as a human being and a unique individual. We may see famous, beautiful people on television and wish we were them. But they’re just people trying to figure it out, too.

They’re no better or worse, they just have incredible filters. Everyone gets sad, lonely, angry, and hungry. When you tap into your strengths, you have as much to offer as anyone.

Fear of Judgment

Worrying what others will think is an evolutionary feature of our brain. Early humans had to fit in and rely on the tribe to survive. Now, we can choose to live alone or find a different tribe that fits us.

That doesn’t mean the natural desire to be accepted goes away, but you can reassure yourself that you don’t need to be liked by everyone. The most important person’s opinion about you is yours.

Setting Boundaries

Some people think practicing authenticity means being brutally honest at all times. You don’t need to say everything you think, just don’t lie. You can be polite and still set boundaries or reject invitations.

Living Authentically

Cultivating a lifestyle of personal integrity supports good mental and physical health. The freedom of living in alignment lowers stress, inspires creativity, and reinforces a sense of self-worth.

Conclusion

Authenticity fosters a meaningful and enjoyable life. Analyze your values, beliefs, and goals. Act and speak according to your genuine feelings, opinions, and principles.

Don’t follow trends or social standards you don’t believe in. Having integrity supports your self-esteem and mental health. Following your truth guides you to people and situations meant for you.

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