breaking down authenticity

I was talking with someone recently, and they asked what I did for work.

Do I work outside the home?

(This is always a hot button for me. Even the phrasing of this question makes me bristle but that’s a whole different post.)

Well….not really, no, right now I have a blog.

What’s it about?

It’s mostly about personal development and trying to live an authentic life. And you know, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. So I write about that.

I love that. I try to be really authentic. Sometimes it gets me into trouble.

It was a twenty second part of a conversation that I can’t seem to get out of my head.

I keep thinking about authenticity, and what it means to me.

It doesn’t mean saying what you think no matter what the consequences like this person suggested. (PS I’m not trying to pick on this person – they just got me thinking.)

You don’t have to be blunt or confrontational to be authentic, although telling the truth and being honest is part of it.

But for me, it’s less about your relationship with the outside world and more about your internal relationship to yourself and being true to who you are and what you value without being influenced by those around you.

Being authentic is finding that inner connection to your center and from there every choice you make, everything you do and say and put out into the world comes from your own inner truth without judgement or comparison.

Being authentic can’t get you into trouble.

It’s about being and being seen in a way that truly reflects who you are.

Not about how you say something.

So when I say Let’s get real, I don’t mean say whatever is on your mind.

I mean drop everything that is keeping you from your true life, your true self.

Just felt like I had to clear that up.