What does it mean to be Authentic??

Many of us have heard things like:

“Just be nice.”

“Don’t be like that.”

“Can’t you be more like ____?”

And little by little, we begin to conclude it’s not okay to be who we really are. Or maybe we even lose our sense of who we are altogether — spending time and energy trying to be what we think others want us to be.

In other words, being authentic can come with price.

We may offend people. We may feel nervous or scared to share our real thoughts or feelings. People might not like us.

The question is: Can we go beyond the conditions placed on us by family, friends, society… and even the ones we place on ourselves?

Here’s the truth:

Authentic emotions — from frustration, fear, and anger to love and deep caring — are all part of being human. Feeling anger isn’t the same as being an angry person. Feeling hate isn’t the same as being hateful.

When we allow ourselves to feel the full range of emotions, we gain access to the colors and textures that enrich our lives.

There’s a truism:

To the degree we suppress uncomfortable feelings like hate, anger, or frustration… we also suppress love, joy, and enthusiasm.

Authenticity may feel risky. But it’s also liberating. It allows us to live more vibrantly and love more deeply.