Are you a people pleaser? Do you often inadvertently end up changing elements of yourself in an attempt to make others happy? If your answer to one of these questions is “yes” then today’s blogpost is definitely worth reading.
What it means to be authentic
Living authentically suggests that you’re being your true self in relationships. It means that you’re acting, behaving and feeling in ways that reflect your values and internal states.
Or more simply put: authenticity means that you’re being honest and true to yourself and that you’re following a life path that is meaningful and rewarding. It’s about being genuine and real. And that means accepting your strengths and weaknesses, being connected to your deepest values, goals, desires and sense of purpose and acting deliberately in ways that are consistent with those values, goals, desires and sense of purpose.
Why should you live an authentic life?
It’s exhausting trying to be someone you’re not. Presenting a different version of yourself to all the various groups and people in your life will drain you to your core. Being authentic liberates you from that pressure of always trying to be something else and always trying to be perfect. When you’re living an authentic life, you’re living your life for you and not to please others or meet their expectations. But there’s more… Studies have shown that being your authentic self and living an authentic life is so much more than a feelgood way of life:
Living an authentic life has a significant effect on your self-esteem and your self-confidence: you like yourself more, you trust your judgement, you acknowledge and work with your own unique set of skills and talents, and you make better choices that align with how you want to be.
Living in alignment means that you’re much more likely to prioritize selfcare, rest and balance.
Being your authentic self provides a host of mental wellbeing profits: you are calmer, less conflicted and happier. It also reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety and lowers the risk of a social anxiety disorder.
It’s an aid in relieving stress: people who are at peace with their true selves are much more resilient when it comes to dealing with life’s ups and downs.
Suppressing your true self and disregarding your own needs and desires can lead to numerous physical health impacts such as sleep disturbances, migraine, chronic pain and gastrointestinal problems. In other words: living an authentic life protects your health.
It enhances your relationships: you’re honest and straightforward about who you are and what you value which leads to better relationships because you’re not pretending to be someone else. Authentic people are also better at managing boundaries and they’re less judgmental of their partner.
Living an authentic life means that when you come to the end of your life, there shouldn’t be any regrets.
How to live an authentic life
Living more authentically takes time, effort and dedication and involves quite a lot of patience but you can implement small steps in your everyday life that can help you live an authentic life:
Embrace silence: setting aside quiet time to be with your thoughts can help you reconnect with yourself, recognize what’s important to you and gain clarity about your path.
Practice self-awareness: check in with yourself when you’re talking to someone. Are you putting on a front or are you really communicating and being true to yourself? And if you’re not saying how you truly feel: take a moment to consider why you aren’t being totally honest.
Be intentional and really consider what and who you invest your time in: do these people and activities align with your core values or are you just putting on a front and faking enjoyment?
Explore your values and reflect on them: knowing your values and spotting how they are present (or absent) in your life and work are great clues to unlock your authenticity.
Accept that you can’t please everyone: authenticity means accepting who you are and what you do well and having the courage and self-confidence to share that in the world. That doesn’t mean making everyone happy.
Learn to say no: setting boundaries isn’t a matter of being mean or inflexible, it’s an act of selfcare. Because you should never keep other people happy at the expense of your own health and wellbeing.
Make a habit of regularly checking in with yourself on how you’re feeling about your goals and motivation: ask yourself “is this what I really want?”.
Embrace your imperfections: accept the messiness and complexity of your reality because that’s what makes your wild heart beautiful.
Trust your intuition: feeling out of sync often occurs when we’re acting inauthentic. Things don’t just feel right. Pay attention to those hunches, impressions and physical sensations: they can be your instincts telling you that you are not being genuine. The opposite is also true: you’ll feel it when you’re on track and authentic.
©HolisticHappiness2023
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