What does it mean to be your most authentic self?
Authenticity, at its core, is about embracing who you truly are. It’s about living in alignment with your values, beliefs, and aspirations, even when it means stepping outside your comfort zone or societal expectations.
By becoming your most authentic self, you’ll become a magnet for genuine connections and meaningful experiences.
In this post, we’ll dive into 10 actionable ways to develop authenticity in your life.
10 Actionable Ways to Develop Authenticity
The key to becoming your most authentic self is to show up genuinely, in all areas of life.
Below are 10 actionable ways to become your most authentic self.
1. Practice what you preach
The most commonly shared advice for becoming your most authentic self is to embrace who you truly are. But what if you don’t know who you truly are?
Unfortunately, it’s not an easy question to answer. But, you can learn a lot about yourself by observing what you tell others. It’s like looking in a mirror that reflects your own values, beliefs, and desires.
Think about it – when someone gives you advice but doesn’t follow it themselves, it feels off, right? It makes you think, ‘this person isn’t being authentic’. But when someone shares advice with you and you know they genuinely live by it, they come off as much more authentic. This is because you know they’re aligning their words with their actions.
By embracing the power of practicing what you preach, you not only cultivate authenticity within yourself but also inspire trust and admiration from those around you.
2. Make yourself proud
Instead of tirelessly seeking external validation, focus on doing things that genuinely make you proud.
Sure, holding down an impressive career might give your family something to brag about during functions, but does it align with your values? Does that career make you truly happy?
Rather than living a life solely to gain the approval of your friends and family, ask yourself, what kind of life do I want to live? What kind of job would I have if nobody questioned it? What hobbies would I pursue if I wasn’t afraid of judgement?
Authenticity is all about being true to yourself, even if it means deviating from the expectations of others. By doing things that align with your own sense of pride and fulfillment, you open up a world of possibilities. You give yourself permission to explore your passions, chase your dreams, and create a life that feels authentic to you.
3. Don’t be afraid to fail
You may not be living your most authentic life simply because you’re afraid to fail. If you crave a life filled with adventure and spontaneity, but you’re afraid to take the necessary steps to change your life, you may forever find yourself stuck in a stagnant routine.
Authenticity requires taking risks and stepping outside your comfort zone. It means being true to yourself, even if it means failing in the end. Yes, quitting your 9-5 job to pursue your dreams may not work out, but if that possibility is holding you back from trying, you’ll never know the extent to the authenticity you can live by.
Living authentically requires you to acknowledge that failure is a natural part of the journey.
4. Vote with your dollar
We dedicate a significant portion of our lives to earning money, so how we choose to spend it truly matters. By consciously spending money in ways and at places that reflect your values, you can cultivate a deeper sense of authenticity.
Instead of mindlessly splurging at the mall, take a moment to reflect on what you truly want to support. Do you want to contribute to massive corporations with questionable practices, or would you rather channel your resources towards local mom and pop shops that embody your values?
By consciously aligning your spending with your values, you send a powerful message about what you stand for. It’s like casting a vote for the kind of world you want to see. I invite you to view each financial decision as an opportunity to live more or less authentically.
5. Set your own pace
Setting your own pace is key to becoming your most authentic self.
Having recently moved to the Pacific Northwest from the South, I’ve noticed that the people around me live a much more fast-paced and adventurous lifestyle. It seems like there’s always an extreme sport or a backpacking trip on their agenda.
While I appreciate and enjoy those activities, it’s not my natural inclination to fill every moment of my days with such high-energy pursuits. I find joy and fulfillment in the simplicity of my routines and the ‘mundane’ aspects of life. Instead of rushing through them to make space for everything, I prefer to keep my schedule open and allow myself the freedom to savor those everyday moments. By setting my own pace and prioritizing what truly matters to me, I’ve been able to live more authentically.
Authenticity is about being true to yourself and honoring your own pace. It’s about giving yourself permission to stay in, even when everyone else is going out.
Do you want to embrace a slower pace of life? Here are 10 Slow Living Tips to Simplify Your Life.
6. Notice who you become when you’re sad, tired, angry, stressed or anxious
Noticing who you become when you’re sad, tired, angry, stressed, or anxious is crucial to developing authenticity because it reveals how you respond to challenging situations and emotions. It’s easy to feel authentic when everything is going well. However, in order to be truly authentic, you need to be proud of the person you are in all moments – including the difficult ones.
Notice who you become when you’re stressed at work or feeling tired. Do you lash out at people in a way that doesn’t align with your values? Do you say things you don’t truly mean? These moments of vulnerability provide opportunities for self-reflection and growth.
Developing authenticity means being aware of your reactions and behaviors in challenging times. It’s about striving to respond with integrity, empathy, and kindness, even when you’re not at your best. It’s about staying true to your core values and principles, even when it’s challenging.
7. Learn to say “no”
Learning to say no is a vital component of developing authenticity, especially when you find yourself in uncomfortable situations. It’s your way of saying, “this is who I am, and I won’t compromise my authenticity.” By saying no to what doesn’t resonate with you, you prioritize your own needs and values, fostering a stronger sense of self.
Plus, through the practice of saying no, you learn more about yourself—your likes and dislikes. You also create space for genuine experiences and interactions that reflect who you truly are.
8. Align actions with your values
Developing authenticity requires you to live in alignment with your values. It means making choices and taking actions that are consistent with what you believe is important and meaningful.
Aligning your actions with your values is a powerful way to bridge the gap between who you are and who you want to become.
9. Find value in your work
When you find value and purpose in the work you do, it becomes an expression of your authentic self. Your work doesn’t have to be groundbreaking to feel valuable to you either. Let’s talking about serving tables for instance – something I did for years.
Although serving tables may not seem like the most meaningful job in the world, I was able to find value in it. When I was serving, I would try and get to know my customers as best as I could. Many of them would come in to the restaurant to celebrate a birthday, an accomplishment, or to spend time with the people that they love. I had the power to shape their experience. I could give them a positive, memorable experience or a negative one depending on my attitude.
By framing my job in this way, I felt like my job aligned with my values and brought me sense of authenticity. I invite you to think about the value your job brings to you, to your community or to the world.
10. Spend time alone
The best way to understand who you truly are is to spend time alone. It’s an opportunity to disconnect from the external noise and reconnect with your inner voice. It’s a chance to develop your own opinions about the world around you – without the input of others.
There’s a reason why solo travel is such a life changing experience for so many people. For many, it’s their first time venturing out into the world alone. It’s their first time noticing how they interact with the world around them without a friend, family member or significant other around. This can be an incredibly eye opening experience.
But, you don’t have to travel across the country to discover your authentic self. Even simple acts of spending time alone, like taking yourself out on a solo movie or dinner date, can lead to profound self-discovery.
In Conclusion
So there you have it, 10 actionable ways to develop authenticity in your life. By integrating these practices into your life, you can work towards becoming your most authentic self.
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