The Real Key to Authenticity

 "Become who you are."

~Nietzsche

We hear a lot about being "authentic."  The key to authenticity is to be who you really are.  So many people put on masks to disguise who they really are with their coworkers, peers and even with their loved ones.  All of us have a core identity composed of who we really are and are intended to be.  To "become who you are" you must allow that real you to peek out and begin to act in ways that are congruent with that "you."  This means living in accordance to your values, sharing who you are with others--warts and all.  Often it means living in accordance with your life's true purpose, even if it isn't the popular way of doing things.  As you become who you really are, you really begin to live authentically and people will be attracted to that authenticity.

This week:  Think about who you really are.  Think about what you've tried to hide about yourself from the world.  Just for this ONE WEEK, practice being who you really are with at least one person.  You can pick a complete stranger or someone close to you.  Notice how it feels when the mask is down.  Do you feel vulnerable?  Uncertain?  Fearful of rejection?  Or do you feel free?  Unleashed?  Maybe a combination of all of these feelings?  Notice the reaction of that person to you being who you really are.  At the end of the week evaluate whether you chose wisely the person to share yourself with authentically.  What would you do differently next time?  Use this information to make decisions about trusting others with "the real you."  

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and trainer at the Inner Resource Center in Maryville, TN.  She is an expert at helping people uncover their authentic selves, including discovering their life's purpose.  She specializes in helping people make transformational changes quickly through intensive break-through sessions.  For more information about resources to help you make big changes in your life, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/