Three Reasons Authenticity Matters
And how to show up that way
How many times have you heard “Be who you are” or To Thine own self be true?” If you are like me, (thank God for either of us that’s not true) we’ve heard it until it's so cliche that it is hardly meaningful anymore.
There is something of merit here though. Without knowing who we are and offering our realness to others, life is essentially a sham, right? Okay, so maybe a sham is a bit harsh. My point is without authenticity, the life we live can become challenging, opaque, and messy.
Many models of success subscribe to the idea of copying it. You know, find what’s already working and “do that!” It is also said:
It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. – Herman Melville
I have an admission; As a young man, I sucked as a student. I never learned how to succeed, but I got really good at imitating. While that provided me with a career that paid the bills it didn’t provide me what I was really seeking…namely, the miracle of knowing and being who I really AM!
It’s also never too late to be authentic or to experience the magnificence and freedom it brings. This is the way Brene Brown sees it:
“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.”
This was life-changing for me. Wow, I thought, I get to choose! I don’t have to live someone else's life. My best opportunity for success in any world is to show up and be real. I do that by being myself, by being authentic. How cool is that?
I was a kid raised by parents who did the best they could with what they had. I am ashamed to admit it now, but I came to believe I wasn’t good enough because I didn’t see my parents as good enough. I was comparing my parents and myself to others. This comparison stunted my growth by stunting the image of my true and authentic self.
Thank goodness for the people in my life who cared enough to stand by me as I learned and experienced the lessons necessary to grow beyond those comparisons.
So here are the three reasons being authentic matters as promised in the title of this article:
- Trustworthiness — It feels good knowing that I won’t disappoint people around me anymore because I have chosen the path of being my own man. I no longer have to please others because I’m okay without their approval. What I need most, I already possess. I know who I am. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
- Credibility — Everyone knows how important credibility is to success. And, credibility doesn’t come easy. There are often sacrifices made to establish and validate the integrity of that credibility. Though there are some who wind up with credentials without the work, real credibility requires legitimate effort.
- Realness — “Nothing real can be threatened, nothing unreal exists.” — A Course in Miracles.” Is there anything more that needs to be said? I simply need to ask myself if I want to exist or be threatened and if not I can just be real!
Thank you to everyone who opened this article and decided to stay long enough to read to the end. There isn’t anything new here except that you may have heard this from me for the first time.
I sincerely hope that some piece of this strikes a chord with you or perhaps reminds you of someone you know who might need an open and nonjudgmental ear. If so, and you or they are open to a conversation, I am happy to oblige. Contact me at [email protected] and we can arrange it.
In case you’re interested in reading more perspectives on important life values, please enjoy the articles below. And, most importantly, know that I am grateful for your time.
Blessings to all of you. Peace be with you!