The Joy of Living Authentically

Gaining emotional intelligence to strip away our survival personality leaves us with our authentic self. Being authentic means dropping the mask we usually wear to fit in. It’s when our actions and words are congruent with our beliefs and values, and with our true essence as a human being. Part of that is knowing what we believe in. It’s being able to express our needs and only surrounding ourselves with people who support those needs. To succeed in being authentic, we first must know our true selves. You may be getting an idea of who you are not, and who you could be.

When we’re living authentically, we allow ourselves to feel whatever it is that we’re feeling. All emotions are okay; they’re a key part of our intelligence and the human experience. If we feel sad, we allow ourselves to feel that. If we’re in a situation where it’s an inappropriate emotion to display, we consider when we’ll next be alone, and able to allow ourselves to express it. Carve out time for yourself to reflect on your emotions. Journaling is a great way to do this.

Authentic people are more optimistic. Optimism is the belief in a positive future and the ability to find good, even in challenging circumstances. They know that everything that happens to us, whether or not it’s pleasant, is a blessing, so positivity is the only authentic point of view. The Dalai Lama reminds us, “If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you’re right.”

Psychologists have also explored the link between optimism and well-being and agree that optimism is a key factor in resilience. Optimists explain setbacks as temporary, specific, and external, whereas pessimists explain them as permanent, pervasive, and internal. This optimism allows authentic individuals to bounce back from challenges and persevere on their spiritual path.

Another benefit of living authentically is strengthening your intuition. Authenticity allows us to shed societal expectations, and connect with our truest selves, until intuition becomes the clearest inner voice that guides us. It’s your intuition that will guide you towards those other spiritual practices that can be helpful on your specific spiritual journey.

Psychology offers a complementary perspective, viewing intuition as a form of unconscious processing, where past experiences and emotions are integrated to form a gut feeling. Intuition is a “psychic” function that allows us to make sense of the world beyond logic and which plays a crucial role in self-discovery. When we’re authentic, we’re more open to listening to our intuition, which can guide us towards our true potential. By embracing our true selves, we become more receptive to subtle intuitive nudges. Self-confidence is the byproduct of trusting our gut feelings and intuition.  By living authentically, we create an environment where our intuition can flourish, and in turn, guides us on our path towards spiritual growth and more opportunities for happiness in life.

Because authentic living means having greater facility to express ourselves verbally and emotionally, it throws the doors wide open to also express ourselves creatively. The human spirit yearns for expression. That isn’t just a character quirk, but a vital part of connecting with something larger than ourselves. With our new-found reconnection to curiosity, this becomes even more possible.

Creativity isn’t limited to painting, writing, or music. If you have any kind of creative curiosity and are at all interested in living a more interesting life, then you’re an artist. Whether you’re cooking a meal, gardening, or fixing a car, you can approach it with a creative spirit, finding joy and fulfillment in the process.

Finding our passions and expressing them creatively allows us to be fully present in the moment, lost in the flow of creation. Our creative passions are a core part of self actualization, for as we create, we learn, grow, and discover hidden aspects of ourselves. This passion project doesn’t have to be our job, but something we can find time to pursue. As Bashar, the entity channeled by Daryl Anka, tells us, pursuing our passions without expectations  is the truest path to happiness.

The collective unconscious is a shared pool of human experiences and ideas, and when we create authentically, we tap into this wellspring of creativity, and our artistic expression resonates with others on a deeper level. By embracing our passions and expressing ourselves creatively, we connect to an authenticity that nourishes our souls and allows us to contribute something unique and beautiful to the world.

My book Your Trauma Healing Journey: Lifeprint Reiki’s Guide to Reconnecting to Self-Love, can be of tremendous help in fulling a goal to live authentically.

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