What Authenticity Means and Why It’s Important
Being “authentic” and “genuine” are terms are thrown around a lot. There are very few who can grasp and imbibe the true essence of this concept. It refers to a state of naturalness that is so effortless yet so out of reach for several adults. The layers and layers of conditioning that we undergo as children are the primary causes of this loss of naturalness. There are some people for whom this state is relatively easy to access, maybe because they are wise and advanced souls who haven’t picked up as many impressions as they grew up. On the other hand, for most others, a significant amount of effort may be required to even come close to experiencing this.
Herd mentality is so prevalent in our society that it is very easy to lose connection with what your soul desires to experience. Advertising and marketing agencies also do a good job of telling you what you should want. Furthermore, there is the deep egoic desire to be seen, understood, and accepted by our peers that sometimes pushes us to say yes to things that are not really in alignment with what we want. It takes an immense amount of inner strength to break free from all of this. It might just be destiny, whether your soul is willing to go the extra mile to awaken from the current level of consciousness on the planet.
It takes courage and determination to let go of friendships and relationships that are not serving your soul. It is a valid fear that is programmed in the nervous system of every human being, the fear of being alone. This is why we often just stick to whatever we have, even if it means not being authentic. The fear of the unknown overpowers the blind faith that life will take care of us. If you start taking steps to coax your mind out of this programming, brace yourself for the bewildering changes that will begin to happen.
Solitude and silence are key elements that help you detach from external pulls that appeal to your ego self. By constantly reinforcing the TRUE YOU and reminding your ego what is most important to you, access to your inner being becomes more accessible. Patience is key in this process since undoing so many years of conditioning and unconscious impressions will take a while. It is not possible to put a timer on the process since it varies greatly depending on the individual.
What are the benefits of being authentic? In one word, fulfillment. This is an important step in filling the “void” that most human beings experience – whether they are aware of it or not. It is how you get yourself to feel “whole and complete”, by being true to your soul. It is how you move out of the “seeker” mode to just “being”. It’s not that life won’t give you more challenges to uncover more layers. However, the moment authenticity and connection to your inner being is the most important thing in your life and utmost discipline is maintained regarding it, you will feel like “you have arrived” on your path. Now, you are willing to experience life without having too many mental conditions imposed on it.
