What does it mean to live an authentic life? A line from Act 1 in Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, describes it as:

"To thine own self be true."

A more modern definition of living authentically is living your life according to your values and goals rather than other people's. Authenticity means you're true to your personality and spirit regardless of your pressure to act otherwise. Your authentic self is who you are deep down and doesn't care what others think. Authenticity appears when there is cohesion in your words, actions, and beliefs that consistently match your identity.

Now we are on the same page on what authenticity means; we can address why it isn't easy to live authentically. We often lack self-esteem and fear judgment from other people. We naturally have a strong desire for others to like us. We think that being untrue to ourselves and more like other people will help us win the popular vote. Unfortunately, we aren't in high school anymore (at least I'm not). Studies have shown that the people we are trying to impress by acting just like them often give more respect to those who are genuine and different. 

Despite the difficulties of living authentically, there are several advantages. Here are a few:

• Authenticity makes you less likely to seek external validation

• You will have confidence and feel secure in your identity and actions, and it will help you realize your true potential

• Authenticity promotes personal well-being and leads to stronger, more enriched interpersonal relationships

• Being genuine will elicit respect from others and allows you to form actual bonds

• Authenticity lets you recognize people for who they are and enables you to be inclusive of one another

• You will live a simple life without having to switch masks for every person you meet or situation you are in

• You'll experience personal growth and will be truly dedicated to your passions

• Through authenticity, you can experience the true meaning of life

Those are some pretty stellar advantages. But what does authenticity look like? Examples of being authentic include:

• Saying no to things that no longer serve a real purpose in your life

• Having the courage, to tell the truth even when it's hard to hear

• Sticking with your core values and not being swayed from them

• Having the courage to be yourself no matter who tries to change you

"The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you really are." -Carl Jung

So are you ready to take the plunge and be your true, genuine self? Here are the steps on How to be Authentic:

1. Give up your act because it's exhausting trying to be someone you aren't

2. Be humble

3. Get comfortable being vulnerable because authenticity requires truth

4. Be intentional with who you invest your time in

5. Accept yourself for all that you are; this includes both positive and negative aspects of yourself

6. Embrace silence to be alone with your thoughts

7. Know yourself

8. Ask other people questions in order to feel connected to them

9. Listen to your inner voice

10. One step beyond accepting yourself is owning who you are and living your truths

11. Always be yourself, knowing that you are enough exactly how you are and where you are in life

It's a process to switch to living an authentic life; it's not something you'll master overnight. It requires practice, like any other skill. It's hard not to care what people think of you, but it's well worth your time and effort. If you're having difficulty tapping into your authentic self, feel free to reach out and message me for support. I'd love to schedule a time to chat with you. 

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." -E.E. Cummings