Authenticity: What It’s Not
Dixie Willis, MA, is a Certified Life Coach and Meditation Facilitator with over 20 years of experience in teaching, counseling, and coaching. She guides seekers in discovering who they truly are and creating the life they love. Additionally, Dixie is a Spiritual Medium, Reiki Master, Shamanic Practitioner, and published inspirational author. Learn more at www.dixiewillis.com.
Authenticity: a term we’ve encountered and have been told to be authentic, to be ourselves, and to be real! We are taught to be anything except our authentic selves from a young age. Have you ever been told things like: “Suck it up,” “You need to fit in,” “You’re too woo-woo,” or “Don’t make them uncomfortable with your words”? Perhaps you’ve heard, “Don’t rock the boat,” “Your voice and feelings don’t matter,” or “Are you really going to wear that?” Maybe you’ve been told you’re “just a girl” or should “be a real man.” Have you ever heard that you’re “too sensitive,” that “it’s not okay to cry in public,” or that you should simply suppress your emotions? We’re told to keep going as if there is some reward for not being our authentic self to make someone else comfortable.
In many societies, this is unfortunately admired. We can become more confused by who we are by listening to everyone from our parents, teachers, friends, family, neighbors, counselors, coaches, preachers, ministers, mentors, shamans, psychics, astrologers, tarot cards, and even strangers; everyone and anyone or thing except ourselves. Seeking guidance on our path to discovering who we truly are can be helpful, but it’s when we let someone else decide for us that it becomes a problem. Living for someone else and trying to meet others’ expectations becomes exhausting. Some of us unintentionally please people instead of doing and being what’s best for ourselves without realizing it. This is not being authentic.
What is Authenticity?
To be who you truly are and want to be without second-guessing yourself or needing approval from anyone else. When you’re being authentic, it’s freeing, effortless, and empowering. Don’t worry about what others think of you; you just enjoy being yourself. There is only one you on the entire planet. Don’t waste your life living inauthentically trying to please people, make sure everyone else is comfortable with who you are in the world, or worry that it will offend someone. If someone is offended by your authenticity, that is their work, not yours. As long as you are not harming yourself, anyone else, or anything else, go all the way and be you! You may need guidance to explore who you truly, authentically are because it may be so ingrained that you have maybe forgotten or suppressed who you truly are. Guidance can be helpful if you decide who you are and live your life joyfully. How boring would life be if we tried to fit in and not be our authentic selves?
Authenticity starts with self-awareness and the courage to accept and act on your truth and be yourself. There is only one you! In a sense, authenticity means taking back your power if you feel you’ve lost your voice. It can also mean having hard conversations with loved ones and being able to be you fully without apologies.
What is it Worth to be Authentic?
Your soul is your True North, your authentic self; this is where the answers are and something you can completely trust. Being yourself is far less exhausting than trying to be someone you aren’t. If we let someone or something else tell us who we are, we aren’t living, not for us but for someone else. And, at the end of your life, I don’t want you to regret that you didn’t trust yourself enough to live authentically. Remember, there is only one you. You are in this world to be you and express yourself in a way that is right for you. Authenticity is living your life in your own way. Loving and being your authentic self is worth it! Stand in your power by remembering and being who you are. The world needs you just as you are. Thank you for being you!
Questions to Consider
- What would it look and feel like to be your authentic self?
- Would you continue to hang out with the same people? Why or why not?
- Would your life change? If so, how?
- When in your life have you felt authentic?
- When have you felt inauthentic?
- What’s it worth to you to be your authentic self? Why?
Powerful Quotes
“The authentic self is the soul made visible” ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach.
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken” ~ Oscar Wilde.
“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are” ~ Kurt Cobain.
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"Being yourself is far less exhausting than trying to be someone you aren’t."
Dixie Willis, MA, is a Certified Life Coach and Meditation Facilitator trained through Mindvalley. She is a former Licensed Professional Counselor who left her clinical profession to return to her spiritual practice to guide seekers in discovering who they truly are and creating the life they love. Additionally, Dixie is a Spiritual Medium, Reiki Master, Shamanic Practitioner, and published inspirational author. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health. With over 20 years of experience in teaching, counseling, and coaching, Dixie utilizes her diverse healing modalities to support her clients on their spiritual journeys.
Read more from Dixie Willis or connect with her on Facebook, LinkedIn, or her website.
