5 Misconceptions about Authenticity
There is no single definition of Authenticity. In simple words, Authenticity means Being Who You Are. Authenticity is neither a style statement nor does it help you Build Your Personal Brand. In fact, Authenticity goes beyond Being Your True self. It enables you to accept yourself for who you are and helps you manage your fears and anxiety.
There are millions of articles on Authenticity so I wouldn’t want to repeat what has already been mentioned. Like any other social concept, Authenticity too has its own set of misconceptions which may be holding us back from adopting Authenticity.
Let us explore and debunk these 5 Misconceptions about Authenticity:
# 1 Being Authentic is Scary – No! Most of us are aware of our innate (core) nature but we have kept it hidden for various reasons (fear of being judged, fear of being rejected, etc.). Authenticity doesn’t require us to decode our Early Life Experiences. When you Know Who You Are, you gradually start accepting yourself and are open to embracing Failures and Mistakes. So, when there is nothing to hide, there is no reason for us to be scared of!
# 2 Authenticity Makes Us Strive for Perfection: we need to understand that there is a huge difference between Being Authentic and Being a Perfectionist. Striving for Perfection will force us to go away from our true selves. Being Perfect is a criminal waste of time and it doesn’t allow us to move forward in life. We were meant to be Imperfect because Imperfection inspires us to do things beyond our capabilities. By embracing Authenticity, we become more vulnerable, accept ourselves for who we are regardless of our flaws and allow ourselves to learn from our mistakes. It’s time to let go of the need to Be Perfect!
# 3 People use Authenticity as an excuse to Be Rude – as humans, our core nature is to spread love and be compassionate. Our Social Environment and Early Life Experiences shapes who we are and how we live. Even before we jump to conclusions, it is essential to understand the difference between being rude and being straight forward. Straightforward people are often considered rude. We don’t have to be rude to be honest. Authenticity will enable you to observe your tone while communicating and help you pass on your message appropriately. If you find someone being rude and arrogant then that isn’t Authenticity. The person is just being loud and lousy – perhaps you could help them understand what it takes to be Authentic!
# 4 Authenticity is the Cure for All Diseases – absolutely not! There is a direct link between Authenticity and overall wellbeing but it isn’t a cure for all diseases. Getting sick is an inevitable part of life and occurs out of our control. Authenticity is our anti-dote to Anxiety but it cannot protect us from serious ailments. Remember that it is a way of living and not a protective shield.
# 5 Be Yourself but Try to Fit In – the Roots of Inauthenticity can be traced back to our need to belong. We have been told since our childhood that we need to act according to the social norms in order to fit in. We assume these beliefs to be true thus limiting our true potential. We Belong to Ourselves and We Belong to this Planet – that’s all that matters. When you belong to yourself, you give up your need to fit in. Focus on Being Your True self, everything else will fall into place. You don’t have to do things to keep your folks happy – if something isn’t working then don’t try to fix it. Trying to Fit in takes you away from your core being and you fall into an endless trap of psychological games. Stop Trying to Fit In and Embrace Your Authentic Self!
That’s all I had to say! Over the next few weeks, we will explore the concept of Authenticity and see how we can make our lives simpler by embracing Authentic Living!
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