Living an Authentic Life

The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.

~ Carl Jung

The authentic self is soul made visible. 

- Sarah Ban Breathnach

With the demands of everyday life, we can lose sight of who we really are. We get lost in the roles that are defined for us - mother, wife, daughter, friend, student, business woman. But who are you really and are you being true to your inner self? Are you being authentic? According to an article from Psychcentral.com being authentic means coming from a real place within. It is when our actions and words are congruent with our beliefs and values. It is being ourselves, not an imitation of what we think we should be or have been told we should be. When we are not living authentically the tell tale signs there, feelings of disconnect, dissatisfaction, uninspired and an overwhelming feeling of loss.

Authenticity starts first with the decision to be genuine. You must be aware of what that feels like and be able to act in accordance with your genuine nature. This kind of self-awareness gives you the freedom to choose what feels right to you and in line with your values.Here are some ways taken from Gaiam Life to get you stared on your way towards an authentic life.

• Redefine your values. Be clear about what you care about.

• Nuture an open mind. Look at situations from all sides.

• Fill in the blank: If you really knew mw you'd know this: ......................... This question prompts introspection

• Know when you are being authentic.

• Trust your intuition. Pay attention to those hunches, physical sensations and impressions.

If we truly believe in living an authentic life, then we must continually be learning about ourselves, challenging old beliefs, sorting through our baggage. Authentic People feel better, they are more resilient and less likely to turn to destructive habits for comfort.