Authentic Living: How to Be Real According to Psychology

A good life doesn’t mean a lack of problems, but having a diverse range of enriching experiences of all kinds. We realize that a complete, fulfilling life is a process, not an outcome.

When we fully develop our potential and live authentically, we experience meaning in life and personal growth with whatever is thrown at us. We are sincere, grateful, mindful and expressive. We engage in positive activities like volunteering, donating time or money, or helping society in other meaningful ways.

Know Yourself + Own Yourself + Be Yourself = The Authentic Life

Authenticity is achieved when we are outside what we are inside. Putting on an inauthentic self (faking authenticity) is tiring and also damaging to our mental health.

We should be aware of our body, listen to the voice inside, amplifying the hopes, dreams and fears. We have to know ourselves, face our truth and then own ourselves. Being yourself means being honest, sincere and genuine, the pathway to authenticity.

1. Are you free to make your own choices?
2. Can you express your own views and opinions without fear?
3. Can you be yourself on a daily basis?
4. Are you true towards who you really are?

If you are answering these questions as Yes, you are living an authentic life.

Authentic people are vulnerable and constantly enter a state of mutual vulnerability with others, taking it as a source of strength instead of a weakness.

Vulnerability is the wellspring from which love, belonging, joy, empathy and creativity erupt. When business leaders show humility and vulnerability, their team feels a stronger, authentic connection with them.

A human being’s natural inclination is always authenticity, as seen in every child, who is authentic by default and loves everyone unconditionally. The fault lies in how some kids are raised and how their self-identity and ego starts to develop 18 months after they are born.

A developing child of an authentic parent is free to choose their path, with no impositions. But even then, the love they learn is often conditional, as it is almost always related to good performance, or securing good marks, which can pave the way to inauthentic living as an adult.

As parents, our children should get unconditional love from us, instead of being tied to excelling in school or sports.

If we wish our child to be authentic, we have to stop putting conditions on our love towards them.