Authenticity

authenticity:

noun
1.     the quality of being authentic; genuineness

              

As I have grown older I have discovered the importance of living an authentic life. There is something so great about being around a person who lives according to who they truly are. Their eyes sparkle just little bit more, their smile is bigger, and their entire being is so inviting. But what does it mean to live an authentic life?
I have been very interest in this topic so I have spent about a year learning what it really means and these are some quotes  that have made an impact:

• "Being authentic means showing up as an 'unprotected presence'"- Roxanne Hai
• "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." - C.G Jung
• "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." -Ghandi
• "Truth is a point of view, but authenticity can't be faked."- Peter Guber
• "Hard times arouse an instinctive desire for authenticity." -Coco Chanel 

Apart from these quotes there are countless songs based on these ideas including: Shake it off - Taylor Swift, Soar - Christina Aguilera, Love Me - Katy Perry.

I've found that to be truly authentic we must let go of what is expected of us and just let ourselves be. Do the things that make us happy, surround ourselves with people who appreciate us for who we really are rather than trying to fit in or pleasing others. Making the decision to be genuine is a challenge but the freedom gained from living your life exactly who you are is more rewarding. During this process I also found that an authentic life includes accepting change. Our likes and dislikes are constantly evolving and rather than fighting the change it is important to accept it and grow through all the changes we encounter.

I challenge you to embark on the journey of living an authentic life with me and finally decide to be who you really are...trust me you will be happier.

Please leave your comments below telling me what you think it means to be authentic :)

-Val