The Gift of Living as Your Authentic Self

Photo: Close-up of an elephant highlighting the beautiful wrinkles, long eyelashes, and delicate skin variations, tones and textures. SanDiego Zoo, SanDiego, California (2006). Copyright SJPhotography

The Gift of Living as Your Authentic Self (includes guide meditation)

The etymology of the word authentic comes from autos meaning “self” and hentes meaning “doer, or being.”

We all have an authentic self – even animals have an instinctual and authentic self. We have seen videos and movies showcasing the unique personalities animals have: cats, dogs, birds, an octopus, and even elephants, deer, bears, chickens, cows, and horses. A simple question to ask ourselves if we are living authentically or not is to think about times when we have denied our authentic being. For example, if we say “yes” to an invitation to go out for a drink or coffee, or something else, yet everything in us is saying “No, I don’t want to go.” We feel this schism within us acutely as we bandy between the choice of disappointing another or fear of some other outcome if we don’t say yes, versus betraying ourselves, our feelings and needs, and our own unwavering truth if we say no.

An internal battle may commence over who and what to listen to but it is still a simple question when asked from the perspective of what is your truth in this moment, and will you follow that truth, deny it, or negotiate with it? In the moment it may seem like a difficult decision to own our truth or throw it to the wayside for some other reason. But in order to navigate the world we live in today it is a beautifully appointed gift, and a free inner guide and compass that has no agenda except to honor you. Its power is in showing us simply what is “most right” for us, trustworthy and reliable, factual – and not fictitious – which I offer is a powerful tool to have at hand today.

The broader question is can we let ourselves be genuinely who we are? Even with all our peccadilloes, self-identified flaws, and seeming imperfections – can we accept ourselves fully just as we are? Can we open to this moment with truth and candor and accept our intrinsic and authentic self? Can we move through life and honor our unique and powerful authenticity at the same time? These may be hard questions to ask and answer but the true test is in stepping out into the world as our authentic selves and being okay with it. So often – this choice to walk in our truth becomes shaded by fear, anxiety, and internal thoughts and beliefs that tell us otherwise. We build a growing shell around ourselves from infancy to adulthood as a protective measure, a way to fit in or feel accepted, liked, and agreeable. We present a small part of ourselves that we find pleasing to others or create an entire façade to display to the world as a way to bear the weight of life’s expectations and judgmental, and oppressive standards. These demands of us can be related to family, society, community, work, education, relationships, groups and affiliations, and our own ideas of who we think we need to be to survive, thrive, and simply exist.

People have two needs: attachment and authenticity. When authenticity threatens attachment, attachment outweighs authenticity.

_Gabor Mate, “The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture”