Authentic self

This week at my monthly appointment with my therapist we spoke about ‘authentic self’. My eyes lit up when she said those words – authentic self, how fabulous does that sound! I need to read more about it but to give a brief outline from my understanding of it, authentic self is the real you, who you are at the core of your being. The authentic self is true to your own personality despite external pressures. It is a composite of your core values, talents, skills and acquired wisdom.

The false self however is the person who is doing what he/she is expected to do, working in a job they are expected to work in and can often feel incomplete. The false self fills roles as expected by others living a life that fulfils the needs of others, ignoring your own talents and skills. The false self can cause you to cruise along in life, doing what is required at different stages. This is how most live due to the human condition.

I get this. Up until about 4 months ago (when I started my blog) I was happy working in a job that is satisfying and rewarding. I have been presented with opportunities I am extremely grateful for and could possibly work another 10 years feeling appreciative and happy. However when I started writing a bright light lit up my soul. My passion, my true authentic self was revealed. I love writing. I have wondered many times why I did not pick up a pen 20 years ago and follow that passion. But as the universe would have it I still had much to learn (still do). I would not have had the life experience or the insight as a 20 year old, and the opportunities I have had in the meantime have brought me to a place where I can now focus on my passion. My job has also taught me things I would not have been challenged with otherwise – speaking out, setting up boundaries with people, learning my own boundaries and sticking to them, how to put me first at the times I need to, how to respectfully treat others. I would possibly not have had to face these challenges had I not worked in the fields I have worked in over the past 2 decades. This makes sense to me now:

I am hitting the bookstore tomorrow to get literature on the authentic self. I am intrigued. I always thought when people said ‘you should do what you really love’ that they were lucky to be able to do so and that they must have circumstances that allowed them that freedom. What about my mortgage? What about the needs I have to fill? But it all makes sense now. Now that I have moved on from issues and challenges I had been facing in the past I have opened up a part of me, the passionate core of my being, to do what I love. By examining myself through sincere awareness I have realised that what I thought was me – my ideals, my thoughts, my beliefs – was in fact not. This is me. This is my authentic self.

Do you know much about the authentic self? If so, please share your insight.

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