3 Simple Ways To Be Authentic
Being authentic is one of the most significant traits a person can have. When we talk about authenticity, it means being true to yourself and not hiding what you are. Being authentic is far more rewarding than being someone you are not because you don't have to worry about what you said or how you acted. When you become authentic, what others think doesn't bother you, and you trust yourself. When you live an authentic life, you feel free to express yourself in front of people without fearing being judged. Many people show a particular side of themselves when they are around people because they don't fully trust themselves, which is a sign of weak behavior. Your authentic self is who you are deep down. The part of you that doesn't care what others think. Learning to be your authentic self is essential to building meaningful relationships. Authenticity happens when your words, actions, and behaviors consistently match your core identity.
Orville Ingram
I am the founder and CEO of Ingram Educational Consulting (IEC), LLC, a minority-owned consulting firm that provides leadership coaching, training, diversity, equity, and inclusion for those in education, healthcare, private equity firms, and the private sector. I have always had one motto in life: to be true to yourself and do what makes you happy. Therefore, authentic leadership has played a significant role in shaping my life. Being authentic has changed my life for good and what I truly mean by being authentic is to be true to yourself, your values, your actions, and your experiences. When you are authentic, it means that you are self-aware and take responsibility for your action. Taking responsibility for your actions is extremely important because it shows what kind of person you are. If a person who is constantly blaming their mistakes on others will never learn and grow; therefore, owning up to your mistakes and always being true to yourself is what makes a person authentic. Here are three simple ways through which you can become authentic:
Observe yourself objectively to develop authenticity
Observing yourself objectively and learning how you react under certain circumstances can play a significant role in developing authenticity—watching how your "Adaptive Self" behaves, what it believes, how it reacts under pressure, and how it responds to challenges. Practice noticing which of these responses feel authentic and which ones feel inauthentic. By identifying which responses are authentic and which are not, you can work on them. Identifying the problem is the most challenging part; once you are done with that now, it is time to work on it and become your true self which is the authentic one.
Identify discrepancies to develop authenticity
Try to become aware of discrepancies between your actions and your beliefs. For example, if you make a racist, sexist, or otherwise hurtful remark, ask yourself whether you believe the words you speak. Are you just saying these things because someone else taught you to?
We must remember that our adaptive self is just trying to fit in with others; it doesn't mean you want to do that particular thing. So, it can often act in ways inconsistent with our authentic selves. This is normal. But if we want to be more authentic, we must notice and address the discrepancies between our beliefs and actions.
If you acknowledge what is true for you now, you can better live your life according to your authentic self's needs. But that kind of authenticity requires self-awareness and self-honesty.
Taking responsibility for your actions
We humans often make mistakes in our life. The main reason behind making mistakes is to learn from them and become a better version of yourself. Taking responsibility for your actions and errors is one part of it. When people are authentic to themselves, they will own up to it rather than blame someone else if they make any mistake or make a wrong decision. A person who blames their mistake on others is a coward and not authentic. When we talk about being, many authentic factors, such as self-awareness, honesty, ethics, and much more, come into play. You must stay true to yourself and face the consequences because that experience will shape you into a better version of your previous self.
