au·then·tic
adjective ə-ˈthen-tik, ȯ-
: real or genuine : not copied or false
: true and accurate
Week two of “The Gifts of Imperfection” course by Dr. Brene Brown is all about Authenticity. People who know me know that authenticity and integrity are big deals for me. I believe strongly in not wearing a mask, in being honest about who you are, in telling your story, and not being fake. I don’t find it easy to respect the inauthentic or those who tell one story to the world and then live a different way. I am particularly hard on myself when I’ve done this in the past and I choose to take the risk and the hurt that can come with being authentic. I am eager to get this week underway and see where it leads.
In the meantime here are some really great quotes from this week’s reading in “The Gifts of Imperfection”
“Other people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more what they want so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you really need to do, in order to have what you want.” –Margaret Young
“Authenticity is not something we have or don’t have. It’s a practice–a conscious choice of how we want to live. Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” –Dr. Brene Brown
“The thing is…authenticity isn’t always the safe option. Sometimes choosing being real over being liked is all about playing it unsafe. it means stepping out of our comfort zone. And trust me, as someone who has stepped out on many occasions, it’s easy to get knocked around when you’re wandering through new territory.” –Dr. Brene Brown
