Being authentic is a desire we all carry within us. But what does it actually mean to lead an authentic life?
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Being Authentic: Being Who You Truly Are
It's easier said than done. Too often, we find ourselves stuck in unsatisfying situations, listening to the voice of reason rather than tuning into our intuition and our heart.
Sometimes it's the well-paying job that pays off the mortgage, or the familiar partnership that provides security and reliability. Nevertheless, it's worth regularly examining our lives and asking ourselves if we are truly happy and fulfilled.
What Does It Mean to Be Authentic?
Discovering who you really are
Standing by your behavior
Staying true to your values and beliefs
Knowing and living your Talents and strengths
Obstacles on the Path to Being Authentic
There are numerous obstacles on the path to being authentic. On the one hand, there are the expectations of our fellow human beings, and on the other hand, the many roles we assume daily. Additionally, other factors prevent us from truly being authentic.
The Expectations of Other People Towards Us
Purely objectively, we have the freedom to choose what we truly want. However, in reality, we often find ourselves confronted with the expectations of others, which lead us to make decisions that are quite different from what we would have chosen for ourselves.
Adding to the difficulty is the fact that it's often not easy to stay true to oneself. This requires that we know who we actually are.
Being Authentic & the Roles We Assume
Every day, we find ourselves in numerous roles: as colleagues at work, as partners in our relationships, as lovers, as parents, as children to our own parents, as coaches, advisors, and much more.
Sometimes, we switch roles within seconds without even consciously realizing it. That's why being authentic is so challenging: sometimes we get so caught up in our roles that we forget who we truly are.
Being Authentic Despite Fear of Rejection
The fear of rejection is deeply rooted within us humans. We have all experienced situations where we were excluded and not part of the group. That's why each of us carries the desire for belonging. It's not surprising, therefore, that we often go to great lengths to meet the expectations placed upon us.
Sometimes, we confront this fear by adapting to various situations in our lives in unhealthy ways—whether it's in our jobs, relationships, or other social environments. To be authentic, we must free ourselves from this conformity.
Being Authentic in Relation to Your Talents
In our society, talents often play a secondary role. What is frequently valued is what we have fought for or striven to achieve, as well as things we have worked hard for.
This approach results in us disregarding our own personality and talents, and often learning things we are not naturally suited for.
While we can acquire many things through determination, such as successfully continuing our parents' business even if we have no interest in it, or being a good parent despite a strained relationship, living contrary to our talents can feel burdensome and often leads to lack of success. The more we disregard our authentic selves, the further we stray from our true personality.
What Are Talents?
Having a talent means that we excel at something with little to no effort because certain things come more easily to us than others. Some people have craftsmanship skills, others have a musical ear, and some are excellent at articulating thoughts.
Conversely, being passionate about something doesn't automatically make us good at it. Turning a hobby into a profession despite lacking the necessary skills isn't a viable solution for realizing our potential. There's a significant risk of constantly pushing our brains to their limits, leading to chronic stress and overload.
When we disregard our inherent talents, we inevitably pave the way for latent dissatisfaction. Living in a state of loss or neglect regarding our talents can negatively impact our overall mood and well-being.
Not Being Authentic and Its Consequences
In this scenario, you have a significant talent for art and painting, but due to upbringing and societal influence, you believe that it's not viable to make a living from it. As a result, you give up painting and instead study numbers to become a financial management controller. However, you have no natural talent for numbers, making it difficult for you to succeed in your studies. Despite your diligence in acquiring knowledge and tools, you struggle compared to acquaintances who have a natural aptitude for the subject.
Regularly, you feel frustrated because despite your efforts, you can't perform as well as those who are naturally gifted. Increasingly, you experience stress, dissatisfaction, and health issues, eventually leading to burnout. This situation prompts you to question the deeper meaning and purpose of your life.
Not Being Authentic & the Risk of Burnout
We can achieve many things and reach our set goals through sheer willpower, extraordinary diligence, and dedication. Sometimes, we even attain a certain level of prosperity.
However, there's a significant risk of experiencing burnout after a few years, followed by a deep existential crisis and profound dissatisfaction with life.
Many people make compromises early on and pursue careers or paths in their personal lives that don't align with who they truly are. Cries for help from the soul often manifest in physical or mental signals that are ignored for long periods.
According to a recent study, 12 million people in Germany are struggling with symptoms of burnout and overload syndrome.
You should regularly ask yourself the following questions:
How often do I behave inauthentically towards myself and fail to follow my true calling, which I have long had within me?
How often do I let myself be guided by external voices and end up in situations that actually have nothing to do with who I am?
I feel uncomfortable, why am I actually here?
Use Your Talents to Live Authentically
Having a talent for something means that it comes easily to us. To become good at it, we often need to exert much less effort compared to someone who doesn't have this talent. When we live according to our talents, it brings us joy.
We often don't perceive it as work; instead, it brings us pleasure. This is the ideal foundation for a contented mood and a balanced inner life, leading towards an authentic self.
Reflect on Yourself Regularly
Am I living my talents?
Where am I not living my own life, but rather the life of others?
Am I investing in my strengths or not?
When we regularly review our lives in this regard, we create space for new experiences and gain clarity about ourselves. We take a huge step towards being authentic.
Being Authentic: Using Face Reading as Support
Perhaps you're in a situation like I was some time ago, unsure of what talents you possess. For me, it was incredibly moving to discover through Face Reading what I excel at.
Chinese Face Reading masters have defined 30 talent lines, such as the talent for the stage or communication. These talent lines should not be confused with wrinkles or other facial lines; they are always a combination of physiognomic features that we carry in our faces.
If you're curious to uncover your talents, feel free to book a Face Reading session with me.
I look forward to meeting you and supporting you on your journey towards authenticity through Face Reading.
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