“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” – Brene Brown
“Only the truth of who you are, if realized, will set you free.” – Eckhart Tolle
“Live authentically. Why would you continue to compromise something that’s beautiful to create something that is fake?” – Steve Maraboli
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” – C.G. Jung
“Everything will line up perfectly when knowing and living the truth becomes more important than looking good.” – Alan Cohen
The definition of authentic according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary is:
- real or genuine, not copied or false
- true and accurate
- made to be or look just like an original
How many of us actually live an authentic life? How many of us show up as ourselves? How many of us spend our days trying to be someone else? That someone else that we think others will approve of and like.
We all have within us this unique original self, with unique gifts and talents, a unique history and story. Yet, we often hide who we really are, and where we really came from to gain approval or escape rejection and judgment.
When we choose to hide who we really are; the good, bad and the ugly, we also deny ourselves the opportunity to heal, as well as the opportunity to live the life we are meant to live.
We have parts of ourselves that we really are not fond of, and would rather do not exist. We make and have made mistakes, we have pasts that we may not be proud of or are ashamed of, and we pretend that we are happy when deep down inside we are not truly happy.
We have people we need to forgive including ourselves; however we have to be honest with ourselves about it in the first place. Admitting to ourselves that we are in fact imperfect, and that we are who we are; good, bad and the ugly is the start of living an authentic life.
We are beautifully perfect in our imperfection. Once we can embrace that truth we can start to live our lives authentically as ourselves, without the need for masks, apologies, or lies.
This does not mean we go around being judgmental, critical, mean or doing harm to others, claiming that is just who we are… because in reality our true nature is one of kindness and compassion. If this is our behavior then it is more of an indication that we are not living an honest and authentic life, and have built up anger, resentment, hurt, and pain.
A healed heart is a kind heart; a healed heart is a compassionate heart, a healed heart is the door way to leading an authentic life.
Where in your life do you feel that you could be living more authentically? What truths are you hiding from yourself and from others? What in your past has yet to be brought into the open so that is can be healed and released?
To live authentically is to live healthy and happy lives. Removing the masks, the layers of protection, the lies and the tales we tell about ourselves is to take responsibility for our lives.
It is time to get honest with ourselves and those we love about who we are, who we want to be, and where we need to heal.
Today let go of the need for approval; take responsibility for healing your life and start living authentically as who you are, perfect in your imperfection.
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