Authenticity is frequently discussed in the present day. We talk about craving authenticity from people and businesses, and we go searching for our authentic selves.
But what is authenticity? What is this elusive concept we are running after and searching for, and how are we to know if we happen to find it? What is it we can expect to experience when we are in touch with our authentic self?
In summary, authenticity is about living your personal truth. It is about pushing through the voices of the world and your conditioning to connect with the part of yourself that is real, eternal and true.
As Brené Brown puts it:
"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we are supposed to be and embracing who we are." -- Brené Brown
Connecting with your truth sounds so simple, yet it can be one of the hardest things to achieve. As we meander our way through life, most of us get so caught up in the chaos of living and the routine of our daily lives that we actually forget who we truly are. We become both disconnected from our truth and our lives.
We forget what we love. We forget what we need. We forget what fires up our spirits, and the activities that bring us joy. We forget that we are capable, and that we are unique and special.
We instead take on the language and expectations of the world. We do what we know to do and we do what we believe we are expected to do; and slowly but surely we push aside our inner voice and our personal wisdom.
But underneath all the layering of expectation and the voices of the world, our authentic self never leaves us. It is always there; and we can reconnect with it. Once we begin to peel back the layers, we will always find our truth at our core.
Along with the things that are unique to us -- our strengths, gifts, dreams, desires, and needs -- there are some aspects of our authentic selves that are universal. These are the five things that we all experience when in touch with our authentic selves.
•Our authentic self is kind to us.
When we are connected to our authentic self, we are kind to ourselves. It has an incredibly loving and supportive energy and will never put us down, scold us or berate us for not doing better. The cruel and judgmental part of us comes from our thinking mind. Our authentic self is gentle, caring, and open.
•Our authentic self is quiet.
There is a calmness that comes from a connection with your authentic self. Our thinking minds are busy, often overactive and flighty. But the authentic part of us is soft, peaceful and still. As a result, it speaks in whispers and nudges. These whispers can often be overshadowed by the noise of the world, so to foster an ongoing connection with this deep part of ourselves we have to commit to creating stillness in our lives.
•Our authentic self is wise.
We are infinitely wise, and we become our own best experts when we are in tune with our authenticity. We can use our gut instinct, or our intuition, to seek clarity and find the support we need. We recognize that all of our strength lies within us, not in the outer world. Our authentic self is based on feeling.
•Our authentic self is kind to others, and feels connected.
When you connect with the part of you that is authentic, true, deep and real, you also feel connected to others. That energy of kindness extends to those around you, and you begin to sense a deeper feeling of connection with all of life.
•Our authentic self wants us to be happy.
Our authentic self is always trying to show us the path to true joy, and nudge us in the direction of real happiness. It is once we begin to truly trust these feelings, and follow our hearts, that we can begin to truly harness the wisdom and power of our authenticity.
Each and every one of us is on a journey back towards our authentic selves, and to remembering that real part of us that we all share. Some of us are more aware of the search, while others are still blinded by the glare of forgetfulness. Yet once you get close to that part of yourself that is powerful, real and infinitely wise, and feel its tug on your heart, you will forever crave that sense of depth and connection.
If you would like to connect more deeply with your authentic self, I have a free 5 Day Challenge designed to help you begin to peel back some of the layers. You can read more about it by clicking here.