Personal Development
/
Being Your Authentic Self Is Easier Said than Done but ...

Being Your Authentic Self Is Easier Said than Done but ...

Shiken premium Upgrade Banner

Living an Authentic Life: A Guide to Self-Awareness, Empowerment, and Strength

Living an authentic life is a process that requires effort but is worth it in the end. Being authentic is associated with trustworthiness, honesty, and being genuine, down-to-earth, and real. Many organizations now encourage employees to bring their best, most authentic selves to the workplace, and this article offers tips on how to become and stay authentic in order to reap the benefits.

Defining and Embracing Your Strengths

Developing authenticity requires that we recognize and embrace our individual strengths. These strengths can be energizing and lend to feeling greater satisfaction in life. They can also lead us to achieving our best results. To identify our strengths, we should recall a time in our lives when we felt happiest and fulfilled. We can then take a look at what was driving those feelings - our core values.

Acknowledging External and Internal Influences

We can often be driven by habits and behaviors stemming from external pressures such as social groups and societal norms. To be our true, most authentic selves, we should focus on our own meaningful goals and acknowledge what matters to us. Becoming self-aware allows us to recognize what fuels our emotions, whether that be anger, joy, or frustration. Making time for self-reflection is beneficial in boosting self-esteem. Additionally, surrounding ourselves with individuals who accept and appreciate our authentic selves is key.

Living Intentionally and Ridding Ourselves of Self-Doubt

When striving for authenticity, it is important to live intentionally and not allow one�s inner critic to dictate our lives. This means creating smaller, achievable goals that align with our values - even if that means leaving our comfort zone. To build our authenticity �muscle,� we should take daily actions such as practicing gratitude, saying �no� to things that don�t align with our core values, going for a daily walk and reflecting on our lives, journaling, reaching out to close friends, and allocating time for self-care.

Avoiding People-Pleasing and Setting Healthy Boundaries

Our brains are naturally wired to stay safe, which can make it difficult to stand out and display our true selves. To be successful, we must be conscious and intentional in reigning in negative habits and shifting to more positive patterns. One of the biggest deterrents to living an authentic life is people-pleasing - constantly trying to please others and gain their approval. To become and stay authentic, it is necessary to accept our individual gifts and talents, embracing the potential of not always getting approval. Showing ourselves care and establishing healthy boundaries can help us to achieve authenticity.

Living authentically is difficult but possible if you practice patience, dedication, and self-discipline. Doing so helps us create meaningful relationships, reduces stress and anxiety, and in the workplace, fosters a culture of trust and encourages inclusion.

The Benefits of Practicing an Authentic Lifestyle

In the often fast-paced world we live in, it can be hard to slow down and really pinpoint our wants and needs. Taking time to check in with yourself and your goals is essential in ensuring these wants and needs are still in alignment with what you want for yourself. Rikard is a great example of someone who has experienced the benefits of adapting an authentic lifestyle. He noticed that leaving customer events early to get sufficient rest made for more productive conversations. This also provided him with the energy needed to lead a team and make proactive decisions. Another bonus is that, by taking care of yourself, you are also providing an act of service to others as you allow them to have permission to do the same.

Be Yourself

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, 'To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment'. Here are some tips to help you reach this accomplishment:

  • Make and keep commitments to generate trust.
  • Highlight your strengths and accept feedback without lowering your self-worth.
  • Put boundaries in place and practice self-care to reduce stress.
  • Be mindful when making decisions and ensure that they are in line with your wants and needs.
  • Show yourself love and compassion, allowing others to do the same.

It is not guaranteed that an authentic lifestyle will be easier, but it does offer more clarity and energy for the important things. Practicing the tips mentioned above can create a healthier, more connected future.

Understanding and Unlocking Your Human Potential

Living an authentic life, in line with your values and goals, can bring a sense of grounding and energizing. But, it can be difficult to reach this point of living as your true self, and unlocking your hidden potential. With these self-knowledge examples, you can start to make an effort to show up and act as the truest version of you in your relationships, jobs, and day-to-day life.

Radical Acceptance: Saying Goodbye to the Way Life Used to Be

The first step in this journey is through radical acceptance. This means acknowledging and accepting the current situation, and accept the fact that things will constantly be in flux. This is where personal growth begins, as we move away from the old and towards the new. Radical acceptance calls for being compassionate and kind to yourself but, at the same time, challenging ideas and assumptions that no longer serve you. Refrain from putting unrealistic expectations on yourself, and give yourself the time and space to explore the potential of change.

Discovering Your True North Makes Life Easier: Here's Why

The second self-knowledge example is to ask yourself 'what is my true north?'. This is the set of values and goals that you feel deeply connected tothe things that are most meaningful and important to you. This will be your compass, guiding you and your decisions. Your true north focuses your purpose and passion. It will give you clarity and direction, so you don't waste time and energy on things that don't align with your values. It will also help you to comprehend and appreciate the choices you make and the direction your life takes.

Authentic Leadership: Why Showing up as Yourself Matters

Authentic leadership is one of the most important self-knowledge examples. It is about being true to who you are and what you stand for, and being honest and open with yourself and others. It is not an easy task to be an authentic leader, especially when facing criticism, but it is vital to remember that the way you act in your role as a leader reflects who you are. Showing up as your true self can help build a trustworthy and respectful environment, and strengthen relationships.

Why Is Authenticity at Work So Hard?

Authenticity is hard to come by because it means making decisions that are true to our values and goals, and taking the time to get to know ourselves and what motivates us. It takes effort to show up as our true selves, and take responsibility for our actions. But it's worth the effort, as it can help us to create meaningful and long-lasting relationships with those around us. It can also help us to inspire and lead others to their truest potential.

Unlock Authenticity at Work

Authenticity can be hard to bring to the workplace. Knowing how to create an environment where being true to yourself is possible can lead to greater satisfaction in your job. Here are five simple tips to become more authentic at work:

  • Embrace what makes you unique: Everyone has their own set of qualities and talents that can be utilized in their work.
  • Be honest about your blunders: Being open and honest about mistakes is a sign of strength and maturity.
  • Follow your intuition: If something doesn't quite feel right, take a moment to reflect before taking action.
  • Stay open to learning: Learning new skills and ideas can help you develop and become more self-assured in your profession.
  • Listen to others: Hear what your colleagues have to say and use it to improve your authenticity and work performance.

By following these steps, you can cultivate an atmosphere of authenticity that will help bring a sense of openness and trust. In turn, it will make the work experience more beneficial and rewarding.

Join Shiken For FREE

AI-powered learning tools. Create, relax, learn.

Gumbo Study Buddy

Try Shiken Premium
for Free

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Get Started
Join 20,000+ learners worldwide.
The first 14 days are on us
96% of learners report x2 faster learning
Free hands-on onboarding & support
Cancel Anytime