What does it mean to be authentic? The dictionary defines it as “not false or copied, genuine, real.”
Pretty simple, right?
Now let me ask you another question – Are you being authentically you? Or are you being who you were groomed to be?
Well, let me help you a little more by providing an alternate definition of authenticity. I like the way Tanveer Naseer says it.
“Being authentic isn’t about being the ‘real me,’ but being true to our purpose and values that drives us.”
And he’s another way of looking at it . . .
Authenticity is
“Matching your outer expression to your inner experience.”
So, now, let me pose the question to you again: Are you being authentically you? Or are you being who you were groomed/raised to be?
Take some time to really think about that because, sometimes, who you were taught you should be, may not align to who you were created to be.
I was raised to be quiet, soft-spoken, be seen and not heard. I was taught not rock the boat too much. And that my greatest aspirations should be to become a wife and a mother. And for a while, that is who I tried my best to become. But as I grew older, and began to PAY ATTENTION to what really resonated with me, things began to change.
My beliefs changed.
My view on the world changed.
My goals changed.
How I showed up in the world changed.
I began to feel more comfortable expressing myself – my true self – in whatever form I deemed necessary.
Being more authentically you isn’t limited to how you show up in your personal life. It also includes how you show up in your professional life – regardless if you’re an entrepreneur or project manager at an engineering company.
I have recently refocused my business model (and my prices) to align more with who I am and what I was created to do. And, as expected, it kinda goes against the mainstream industry. But now my business is a better reflection of who I am and who I came to serve. And it feels AMAZING!
Another example of authenticity: I admire a young woman who is an electrical engineer like myself. She works for a nationally known engineering company that by all means and measures, is a traditional conservative, male dominated company. But she has no problems expressing her authenticity through her fashion! And I love it!! She’ll wear her big afro hair, vintage clothing, and lately, she’s been rocking sequins! Check out @mimi.irvin on Instagram for a bit of inspiration!
Authenticity is a process. As you grow and learn more about who you are and who you were created to be, you’ll learn to be more and more authentically yourself and start molding your outer world to match your inner self.
Are you being your authentic self? How can you refine your outer expression to more closely align with your inner self? Leave your comments below.
