Authenticity is a buzzword nowadays.
Everyone including me and their grandmother talks about the importance of being your true self.
Tweets, selfies, oversharing in the name of authenticity. But somehow, we feel more isolated and demoralized as we see the highlights of others’ lives on facebook and twitter.
Everyone is up to something extremely important. Everyone is shouting and no one is listening. I look around and I see masks everywhere.
There is a veneer… Everything is photoshopped. Too perfect. Too plastic. A thin oily film covers everything and leaves you feeling greasy and uneasy…
Personas, personalities, swagger, braggadocio…
We fragment ourselves, highlighting the presentable, acceptable parts…
Hiding the vulnerable, honest, imperfect parts…
In the previous post I talked about bringing all of who you are in service to the world. As an uber-eclectic third cultured person, I spent my life revealing different aspects of my self to different groups… a social chameleon, I had to adapt to those different settings and locations quickly.
When you do that enough times, you begin to feel fragmented.
The thing is, each self was authentic. I was telling the truth. I think this is happening in our culture today. People are genuinely trying to be authentic.
But we are not telling the WHOLE truth, are we?
If we are truly honest, we will not only share our highlights but our lowlights as well.
Think of a shattered mirror. Each fragment tells the truth. But a whole mirror reveal a deeper truth.
We are more than the sum of our parts.
We can never be truly honest and practice integrity if we hide certain aspects of ourselves and only display the good parts.
I used to do this in my prayers. I would only thank God and maybe make a few requests here and there. As if God didn’t know it all!
I have doubts, fears, insecurities, neuroses… I have failed many times. I bring them ALL to God now. I know that I am loved just as I am, with all my flaws, my idiosyncrasies, my obsessions…
Here’s the thing… we are all in this together. Let’s take of the masks, step out into the light and show all of who we are… not just the pretty parts.
Not only will we experience true authenticity, connection and integrity but we will be assured that we are loved for the whole truth of who we are.
Practicing Integrity:
1. What parts of your story are you hiding?
2. What would standing in the Light look like for you?
3. How does your hiding affect your integrity?
4. What story do you need to let go of in order to live honestly?
5. “I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God”. In what ways can you make this promise to yourself and live in integrity?
You are worthy of love and respect. You deserve to live an honest and integrated life. Explore what telling the WHOLE truth and nothing but the truth means to you. And go live it. See you next time!
Yvonne Whitelaw writes for Yvonnewhitelaw.com where she blogs about her quest to grow into her ideals in her “Live Your Ideals Project”. By sharing her lessons along the way, she hopes you will be inspired to live your ideals and ultimately live your calling.