Authenticity Reigns Supreme
An era of truth awaits, if we choose it
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Truth, honesty, and authenticity are the currency of the future.
The world may seem like it’s increasingly flooded with manipulative advertising, fake news, propaganda, dishonest people, and artificial content. We may feel like it’s out of our control, that we’re doomed to some dystopian nightmare where we can’t trust our own perception of reality.
But perhaps we are simply becoming more aware of what’s actually true and what’s not. We can sense authenticity. We are beginning to value what is authentic and reject what isn’t.
Humanity is at a threshold of awakening on this planet. Truth is revealing itself in unexpected ways, both the ugly and the beautiful, from a collective society down to our intimate private lives.
We get to play a part in this global transformation, and it starts when we liberate ourselves from external norms and beliefs.
What is Authenticity?
Authenticity is acting consistently with our true feelings, values, and beliefs, exhibiting genuine behaviors that accurately represent our unique identity.
It is staying true to ourselves and presenting our genuine persona to the world without adhering to external pressures, norms, or expectations imposed by society.
Rediscovering Truth Within Ourselves
Everyone has the capacity to feel and understand truth. We are all natural biological lie detectors, but we often suppress our senses through all sorts of distractions and numbing behaviors. Discernment requires focus, silence, stillness - quieting the mind allows you to accessing a deeper level of awareness.
I previously wrote about the paradox of truth and how I practice discernment here:
“Pause, listen, and you might feel the resonance of truth vibrating deep within your being. Interestingly, lies and deception trigger a visceral discomfort, a sensation almost as tangible as physical touch.”
Here’s an exercise to help you value the truth in your own life
Examine moments of radical honesty in your life. Despite the initial discomfort or pain, how did it play out for you in the long run?
Conversely, consider the times you weren’t authentic. How did it make you feel, both physically and emotionally? How did it impact your relationships, your career, the trajectory of your life?
What Has Authenticity Taught Me?
I started to respect myself more, and therefore people respected me more
I became more confident, creative, and happy
I began to accept and love myself unconditionally
I accepted others for who they truly were
I stopped being afraid of what others think about me
I felt more comfortable around people, and even more comfortable by myself
I was less stressed and my physical pain diminished - I got healthier
I discovered who really valued and accepted me versus who was just using me or outright despised me
My close relationships became stronger and more expansive
I created boundaries around toxic relationships
I built trust and people followed my lead
I created thriving cultures within teams, organizations, and communities
I became a model for my children to live honestly
I made better decisions, because they weren’t clouded by fear and self-deception
My writing and speaking began to resonate with a wider audience
Opportunities began to flow to me that actually fit my values
It empowered other people to share and heal something inside themselves
Authenticity Across Life Domains
Authenticity resonates across all aspects of our lives. Here are some words from the wise:
On Relationships
According to Sanjana Gupta, "Honesty forms the bedrock of genuine connections":
Permitting authenticity empowers partners to fully grasp the essence of each other.
Open communication enables comprehension of individual needs, catalyzing responsiveness and reciprocity.
Being yourself with your partner deepens trust, solidifies bonds, and creates intimacy. Whereas suppressing feelings and needs because of fear of conflict can cause the relationship to deteriorate.
On Health
The essence of trauma is disconnection from the self.
Western medicine . . . sees everything in terms of disease categories. And these are there to be endured, or to be mitigated, or to be cured.
But there's no sense in western medicine . . . of internal healing processes that can be invigorated or evoked or supported.
And yet the healing is in that reconnection with the self . . . The connection with your authentic self is available to you at any time."
On Business
Sometimes you get trapped in the wrong game because you’re competing. The best way to escape competition - to get away from the specter of competition, which is not just stressful and nerve-wracking but also will drive you to the wrong answer - is to be authentic to yourself.
No one can compete with you on being you.
Practicing Discernment & Cultivating Authenticity
Here are aspects of authenticity to consider and embody:
Congruence: Aligning your actions with your underlying thoughts and values. Eliminate inconsistencies that create confusion or cognitive dissonance.
Integrity: Uphold moral principles and ethical conduct. Ensure reliability and accountability in your interactions and commitments.
Vulnerability: Expose your genuine self to the world, including your fears, aspirations, and limitations. Encourage intimacy and establish rapport with others.
Transparency: Communicate openly and honestly. Provide context and background information that clarifies intentions and motives behind your actions.
Independence: Develop independence from external influences, acknowledge subjective biases, and exercise free will in making informed choices aligned with your personal beliefs.
Acceptance: Understand others may have a differing point of view, and those are valid in their own way. Find common ground or create enough healthy space so multiple truths can co-exist peacefully.
Courage: Overcome apprehension and resistance towards expressing your true self, especially in situations involving uncertainty, ambiguity, or opposition.
Growth: Engage in continuous self-exploration, learning, and adaptation. Integrate knowledge gained through experiences and feedback, update your authentic representation accordingly.
Closing Thoughts
Don’t stand for bullshit.
Stop being afraid and be your authentic self.
We CAN live happier, fulfilled, honest lives. We CAN build a more harmonious, safe, and connected world.
What’s stopping us?
What I’m Doing This Week
Gratitude
I’m grateful to practice radical honesty and experience unconditional love and acceptance.
Lesson Learned
Embrace and appreciate the journey for what it is, not what you expect from it.
Listening to
Kavi by Wassu, djimboh
Watching
Raw, humorous, and bursting with heart, this show reminded me of the beauty in being earnest, caring deeply, facing challenges head-on, and having fun while doing it.
Reading
Livestock Surprise Scientists with Their Complex, Emotional Minds
Self-care
Meditation, sleep, courageous conversations, fascia work, hot baths, pullups, nature, sunlight, fasting