To Thine Own Self Be True
Philosophers throughout history have held the idea of authenticity in high esteem, but few psychologists have taken it seriously—until recently, when positive psychologists began to attempt to understand human flourishing.
First, there is our outer authenticity—how well what we say and do matches what is really going on inside us. Second, there is our inner authenticity—how well we actually know ourselves and are aware of our inner states.
No one is fully authentic all of the time in their outer presentation. Sometimes we need to put on an act to get by. But some people spend more time living inauthentically than others. It is unpleasant and damaging to us if we are trapped in jobs or relationships where we rarely get the chance to be ourselves. If we are trapped, we need to change the situation when we can so that we can be free to express ourselves authentically.
More damaging, however, is when we don’t know ourselves and it is our inner authenticity which is compromised.
Ask yourself:
How much of the time do you feel that you can be the real you?
Are you easily influenced by other people?
Do you always stand up for what you believe in?
What are the barriers to being yourself?
How well do you know yourself?
Not surprisingly, surveys show that, on average, people who scored higher on tests for authenticity are more satisfied with life, have higher self-esteem, and are generally happier. As Mohandas Gandhi put it so well, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
More recently, Steve Jobs, who died in October 2011, is quoted as saying: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
Tags: Honesty And Transparency Know Yourself Living Your Truth The Privilege
