Jon, then in his forties, was angry with everyone, his parents, marriage, and job.It took a further 10 years before, having moved to Australia, Vic became Victoria and started living according to her true self (Joseph, 2019). Yet for years, Vic had been living inauthentically, hiding behind extreme masculinity. Vic was a macho poker player, aggressive and competitive in his dealing with others, drinking and playing late into the night.While the psychology literature recognizes and describes the value of authentic existence, it’s useful to review some real-life examples of people living or moving toward authenticity: An authentic life involves following one’s passion and being intimately connected to our natural abilities, strengths, and talents. The person living authentically exists “moment by moment, striving to understand themselves, their motivation, defenses, and conditions of worth, while being aware of their responsibilities and choices” (Joseph, 2019). This can push us toward lifelong inauthentic living.Īs Joseph (2019) reminds us, isn’t it true that for much of our adult lives, we put on a show? During the day, we may experience only fleeting moments where we are truly ourselves, saying and thinking exactly how we feel. We learn that there are things we must do to feel an increased sense of belonging and love. As children, we are shown more love and affection when we perform well, win the race, and ace a test. The developing child is free to choose their path, experience a sense of belonging, and develop and realize their potential. The authentic parent ensures that their child’s needs are met. Yet, as self-awareness develops (beginning at 18 months), so too does their sense of who they are, and their narrative starts to develop (Joseph, 2019). When hungry, they cry when their needs are met, they stop. They have no facade and are entirely in touch with who they are inside. We do not teach babies to be authentic they simply are. Humans’ natural tendency is to strive to become more authentic, developing in the direction necessary to reach their full potential, like plants growing toward the light (Joseph, 2019). Those who have their needs met through positive, nurturing environments flourish. This affects behavior and how we perceive the world and the people around us. How and why do we stop being ourselves and being authentic?Ĭarl Rogers (1963), one of the most renowned humanistic psychologists, believed that being motivated toward fulfillment and self-actualization is a normal and natural human urge, yet it can be blocked when our needs go unsatisfied. In Authentic: How to Be Yourself and Why It Matters, Stephen Joseph (2019) suggests that despite authenticity being natural, realizing our needs while considering others is not easy. Learning to live authentically is about understanding what it means to be real. In later life, authenticity greatly affects our sense of the value of expensive and everyday objects such designer watches, specialty coffees, and chipped mugs. Not only does it significantly influence the pleasure we derive from our experiences, but it also affects our judgment and behavior across all aspects of our life (Newman, 2018).Įven young children are aware of the importance of authenticity, learning to treasure originals more than copies from an early age (Newman, 2018). How we perceive our authenticity is a crucial aspect of who we are. Authenticity and Vulnerability: Are They Linked?.Why Is Authenticity Important? 7+ Benefits.Authenticity & Authentic Self in Psychology Research.
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