Authenticity
Authenticity: something that’s real, genuine or original.
Original, hmmm, I like this one the most. Something original.
Nothing added, nothing subtracted, not pretending, just is.
Why are we afraid to just be ourselves?
Why are we afraid to sit in the comfort of who we are?
Personally, when I feel safe in a particular environment, I am authentic. I’m playful, silly, loud (very loud, actually), and talk a whole lot. But I’m also open, vulnerable, and creative.
I don’t feel judged
I don’t feel unloved
I don’t feel ashamed
I feel a sense of belonging
Most of us struggle with being our authentic selves because we battle shame and rejection.
When we are ashamed of who we are, we fear rejection, perform for love, perform to be accepted, and create a false reality so we are perceived in a particular way.
Somehow, we are afraid that when people truly see us, see our goofiness and our weirdness, they will reject us.
So, we pretend to be something we are not so that we are accepted in our friendship group, at work, at school, with our families, and yes, even at church.
Isn’t it crazy how we wear masks everywhere and even struggle to take them off at the very places where we are supposed to feel safe and seen?
We learn to embrace our authenticity when we are bold enough to show up as our true selves rather than how others expect us to be.
When we boldly show up as our true selves, we attract the right people into our lives. We aren’t afraid to lose the wrong friendships because we know they don’t align with who we indeed are.
When we are authentic, we embrace the truth of who we are. We learn to accept ourselves and love ourselves unconditionally and wholly.
Even if this means we are rejected, the peace from showing up in the world as our true selves outweighs the pain of pretending to be something we aren’t.
Authenticity thrives in safety, and cultivating an environment where one feels safe to be seen and to be vulnerable is imperative.
To cultivate authenticity, we must start by creating a safe environment for ourselves and within ourselves.
With this being said, here are five practical ways to help you on the journey to being yourself.
