Have there been times in your life when you felt you weren’t acting like your true self? Maybe you were unsure of a situation or were lacking the confidence to reveal who you truly are.
Whatever your reason, you choose to hide your real self. Personal concealment places us into an emotionally unhealthy cycle. First, we feel unsure of ourselves and this causes us to act even less authentic in the future. We may even begin to wonder, “Who am I?”
Rather than spending time hiding from the world, you’ll flourish by revealing your true self to others. Becoming more authentic in your interactions is definitely possible.
Commit to increasing your personal authenticity in these ways:
1. Monitor your feeling closely. When you know and understand your own emotions, you’ll be less likely to behave in ways that contrast with your feelings.
2. Give yourself time. If something happens and you’re unsure of how to react or respond, it’s OK to not react at all. Allow yourself some moments to consider the situation.
3. Catch yourself being inauthentic. When you realize you’ve been less than honest in a given situation, it’s OK to say, “Wait a minute. I changed my mind,” or “maybe I’m not sure about this as I thought.”
4. Notice what situations prompt you to be disingenuous. Being insincere or untruthful each time you’re around your in-laws or your supervisor, for example, will reveal where your insecurities lie.
5. Be authentic with others to increase your level of confidence. The ability to be open and honest shows that you like and accept yourself and you’re self-assured. Avoid being afraid or too timid to show others who you really are. Self-confidence goes a long way!
6. Realize that others truly appreciate you when you’re authentic in behavior and comments. Think about how you feel when you’re with someone who’s consistently open with you. It feels comfortable and easy to be with someone you know you can trust. There’s no tension or guesswork involved.
7. Show care and gentleness toward others. You might be thinking, “What’s the connection between caring and being authentic?” If you go out of your way to be polite and kind to others, it will be a natural response to be authentic with them.
Specializing in the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders, Trauma, Grief & Depression
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