Being authentic to yourself is a scary experience especially out in this world that is being conditioned to be leery and skeptical of all things. Our environment does not gladly welcome truthful and honest people. It is a difficult way of being because you want to welcome people and experiences however when you are cast as something that you’re not because others cannot fathom that someone can be genuinely themselves can be difficult. Other people’s perceptions of you cannot define who you are or what you become. No person truly knows what another person thinks and should try hard to not make assumptions of what they perceive them to be. When in doubt the best solution is to just ask and hopefully receive a truthful answer.
What does authenticity really mean? I believe that it is the ability to live in your truth and being as honest and forthright as possible. Having comfort in knowing that we all have flaws in one shape or another yet that is what makes us special and unique. Embracing the sides of you that you don’t like to show out of fear of being judged. The power that you give away of yourself when you fear being judged by someone else will hinder you from enjoying the daily nuances of living life.
The biggest challenge a person can go through is learning not to rely on what other people think of you. At the end of the day people come and go from your life and you are always left with yourself. Don’t you think you deserve to love yourself first and foremost if that is what will always be constant in your life? We are conditioned to not be trusting of others therefore we sometimes make quick judgements of others based on our prior experiences. We take these lessons and then try to shape our identities to adhere to what you think is expected. When you take these actions you are no longer being your authentic self because you are trying to be something that you are not for someone else which in the long run will only make you miserable.
Learn to be yourself and let go of the limitations that you put on yourself because you are afraid of how someone else will react. If those are your thoughts, then you are not being honest with yourself or others who are in contact with you. If you live in fear, then you will not experience enjoyment of the simple things. Once you let go of the fear of judgement your spirit becomes lighter, and you enjoy the simple things that happen daily which brings you joy.
Joanne Robinson
