Authenticity

Firstly, I want to thank my neighbour for the topic suggestions, for this blog and the previous one. Since he suggested this topic a couple of weeks or so ago, I have noticed how much it is used. 

I decided to title the blog for the verb of authenticity, rather than the noun of authentic, as I feel it broadens the conversation. I chose a picture of trees, for they are such a wonderful symbol to me of what it is to be authentic or true to oneself. Yet in trees, their nature is such, that being true to themselves is the norm rather than the exception. Their primary impulse is to grow, and they will find a way to do so, even when there is cement over the roots they push through.

Hold on....

that is our primary impulse also.... to grow.

It's just sometimes, we get stuck or constantly get in the way of our growth impulse..

We begin in the womb, growing, and come into the world, growing....often changing so quickly from month to month. Spending time with my niece I am reminded what a natural impulse that is....what is true one moment, may not be the next. day, week or month. And yet, it is accepted as normal.

As we become adults there are more definitive characteristics that define who we are, and they allow people around us to feel comfortable, through the constancy of our personality. Yet, we scarcely know most of the time, who we really are........for in relationship we find comfort, and adapt to the person we are with, to a greater or lesser extent. Whether that is healthy or not, is dependent on the degree to which we feel constricted or at peace. Social norms often prevail, and the sharing of stories is seen as a way of moving towards connection with another. Yet within this there is seldom contact. 

In sharing your story of the moment, with another, of your current experience, you are being true to what is occurring for you. Is that your identity? Authentically you?
Perhaps....but mostly, it gives a glimpse into who you are being right now.
Tomorrow that may change.
Have you noticed how differently you experience yourself dependent on the emotional tone, state you are in?

In fact, sometimes, the only expression of authenticity is to state how you are feeling or experiencing a conversation, situation or relationship. The more anchored you are in yourself, the more willing you are to do this. 

Being authentic for me in the most simplest description - cause I love simplicity, as with it comes depth - is being congruent. What you are experiencing internally is made visible externally. Now, that can be through words, just as easily as a facial expression, or through not saying anything at all. I speak when I feel the internal nudge to do so....sometimes I have no desire to say anything. 

What is real and true for me right now?
In change, what is true one month, week or day, may not be the next.....in changing my mind, feelings about something, I am being true to me, to my own essence. 

In saying all this, I wish to convey how fluid and grounded our nature can be. We need to be mindful we don't weaponize authenticity, as I have witnessed sometimes in the desire to be oneself, we can be prone to think, another expressing in a different way, is not doing it right. When we are on a journey of growth, after a long time of being in slumber, often, the most authentic expression, is to discover and express how we are feeling, i.e. being emotionally honest. We are so much more than we think we are,  mind, body, heart & soul weave together, in degrees of consciousness awareness. The majority of who we know ourselves to be is akin to the iceberg majority under water. So, our greatest ally, is curiosity. 

Marion Woodman said it beautifully, a strong ego is flexible, and a weak one is rigid. This is using strong in it's most purest sense, more akin to solid, rather than dominant.

Wishing you an enjoyable Friday, and as always, I welcome your thoughts, and questions.