Written By Redbird Therapy
Take a moment to imagine a garden full of flowers. Some of these flowers are carefully trimmed and maintained to look perfect. While they are appealing to the eye, they look similar to each other without any factors that distinguish them. Others grow wild and untamed, with petals in unexpected shapes and colors, and they smell like life itself. Authenticity is like being one of those wildflowers – unique, unpredictable, and completely captivating. In therapy and in life, embracing your authenticity can make your relationships and life experiences richer and more fulfilling.
What is Authenticity?
When we’re real and authentic, we show up in life and our relationships just the way we are. This can look like sharing our thoughts, feelings, and showing up with our gifts and quirks, without the pressure to fit inside a mold.
Authenticity however does not mean that we overshare when inappropriate, or behave in ways that are unkind. Authenticity is not an invitation to boundarylessness or disregard. We want to be mindful – in ourselves and in others – when the language of “authenticity” gets used to justify harmful behaviors.
Authenticity is more about honouring our own experiences and expressing them honestly.
In therapy we often see that the more we can embrace and align with our authentic selves, the more satisfying our daily life and relationships become.
But Doesn’t Being Authentic Take Vulnerability?
Absolutely! It takes real vulnerability and courage to show up authentically in a world and society that often pushes us to fit into boxes and roles. Authenticity can sometimes feel risky because showing it means that we occasionally share parts ourselves that might be judged.
Brene Brown, a researcher, podcast host, and author who has spent over two decades studying vulnerability, shame, courage, and empathy described authenticity as,
“the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we really are”.
How Does Authenticity Impact Mental Health?
Research and clinical experience consistently show that vulnerability builds trust, intimacy, and genuine connection. And genuine connection strengthens mental health resiliency.
Authenticity reduces the stress of maintaining a “mask” and helps you build relationships that feel safe and fulfilling.
People who embrace authenticity often experience less anxiety, less depression, and a greater sense of meaning in life. Psychotherapy can provide a supportive space to explore your authentic self and practice expressing it without fear.
How Can I Start Being More Authentic In My Daily Life?
There are simple ways of starting to be more authentic, even if it’s just with yourself at first.
This might look like:
- Writing your true thoughts and feelings down in a journal.
- Noticing and embracing the attributes and quirks that make you “uniquely you”.
- Admitting when you don’t know something. Curiosity is often more engaging in conversations than pretending.
- Practicing sharing your honest opinion with someone, instead of focusing more on what someone else expects to hear.
Learning how to be authentic is a life long practice. The hope is that the more we connect with our true selves and inner essence, the more we can lean into being ourselves.
Our clinicians at Redbird are skilled at supporting you on this journey of self discovery, so you can come more fully into who you are and want to be in this world. Reach out to our intake team to schedule your initial consultation today!
