Life isn’t simple, and there are many different things that could get in the way or alter your authenticity. Unfortunately, it’s easier to find authentic food in your area than it is to find authentic people.  But journaling and learning about yourself isn’t impossible.

The definition of authentic is “of undisputed origin; genuine.” The most important part of that definition is “genuine”. What does it mean to be authentic? It simply means to be genuine.

The question here is what does it mean to be authentic? But the answer isn’t as easy as reading the definition from a dictionary. 

What Does it Mean to be Authentic?

If you want to be authentic, you need to be yourself in every situation. You know an authentic person because you can feel it when you talk to them. These people give off a feeling of comfort and are easy to talk to.

You most likely wouldn’t question the motives of an authentic person. The problem is, today, we have things like personal blogs, Instagram, Facebook, and any other sort of social media.

That social media allows people to portray the idea of authenticity without being authentic. For example, you see a picture on Instagram of a person doing good deeds in their community.

Of course, you’re going to like that picture because it is good to help others. But that person who posted it may not be the best person. At that moment, that person may not have been authentic but is making it seem that way.

The question is, what does it mean to be authentic, truly authentic? Luckily for us, we know what traits that authentic people exhibit in almost every situation. Not just for the latest social media post.

Trustworthy

What does it mean to be authentic? It means to be honest no matter what the outcome may be. This honesty can be exhibited during simple times. You could volunteer to help a friend, and if you’re there on time and ready to help, that is being honest.

You honestly told them you would help and honestly showed up to help. But it could also be something bigger than that. Authentic people stick to their word which gives the things they say actual value. 

Treat Others How You Want to Be Treated

We have all heard this saying starting from a young age. We know that we should treat others the same way we want to be treated. Yet we sit in traffic and refuse to let that car into our lane.

That car has had its blinker on for a full minute, and we still refuse to let them in. But here is the flip side. We get frustrated when we are in that car trying to get into another lane.

An authentic person is in touch with their inner thoughts and emotions. Most of us react in the moment, but an authentic person can reflect on that saying, treat others how you want to be treated, and almost like a reflex, they do the right thing. 

Listen and Speak

What does it mean to be authentic? It means to listen to others, truly listen to them. After listening, an authentic person can use their own thought process to evaluate what has been said.

Then, you will get the help you needed. That is because an authentic person listens, uses their inner voice, and responds with an authentic and helpful answer.

This is how authenticity works in terms of a person’s personality. You can be authentic by giving a truthful response even if it hurts that person to hear it. An authentic person can also receive authentic advice, and instead of getting angry because the truth hurts, they reflect on it and see the value of the truth.

That leads us to the last trait of an authentic person thus the definition of authenticity.

Open Mind, Open Heart

Being an open-minded person is not easy today. There are so many different opinions and lifestyles out there. Some of them contradict our own beliefs. But that doesn’t mean we have to let them change us; we just have to show a little understanding and compassion.

Your beliefs in life may not be the same as everyone else’s, and there is not a single thing wrong with that. Being real means having the ability to entertain new ideas and work hard to understand them.

We don’t have to believe them, in fact, that could be the complete opposite of being real. But we should be able to listen and consider the new idea, and if it fits into our beliefs in some way, we let it.

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