The Road to Freedom is Paved with Authenticity

When you consider your life until now, how often do you present the “real” you to those around you?

Protecting yourself by putting up a façade may come as natural to you as breathing.

You might constantly hide who you are, concealing your true nature from everything and everyone. Perhaps you prefer to put up a physical barrier behind makeup, clothing, accessories, even logos and brand names. Or you may have a collection of identities you turn on and off depending on the circumstances.

You might act differently when you’re with certain friends. With one set of friends, you’re confident and boisterous because you want to match the energy of the group. In a group that's a bit more subdued, you may be quiet and reflective.

So, which one is it? Who are you?

I understand that different relationships have different dynamics and personalities, so you don’t necessarily behave the same around every person. Getting caught up in the expectation of who you’re supposed to be rather than bravely living as your authentic self is far too easy.

Freedom in authenticity

Over the years, you've likely created a persona of the type of person you think you should be. Who you need to be at work. Who you need to be at home. Who you need to be with our partner.

What about who you really are? When you’re so hyper-focused on being a certain way in certain circumstances, you can lose ourselves and neglect to pursue what makes you truly happy and fulfilled.

That makes it impossible to honor yourself in the way you deserve. Instead, you pursue others’ expectations rather than your own authenticity.

I want to suggest an alternative. Stop wearing the veils of others’ expectations and be honest with yourself about what you want from life. What if you courageously chase your dreams while honoring your voices? What if you show up for yourself more than you show up for others?

Volunteer to be vulnerable

If you spend more time honoring others’ expectations than showing up for your own, maybe it’s time to open the door to authenticity.

Unapologetic authenticity doesn’t come not come naturally for you. There’s a reason why. It’s terrifying. Letting the world see who you really are is ultimate vulnerability. It’s also the ultimate form of freedom.

When you’re exactly who you are, you can decide how much of yourself you want to reveal in a situation. You're not hiding—you're choosing. That willingness to be open creates a space where the best things happen.

Bring Yourself

You will have moments in your life when you either need to show up or sit down. You can miss opportunities to show up for yourself and get what you want because you’re too preoccupied with pretending.

To live a whole, authentic life, you must boldly Bring Yourself. That means a few things.

You need to know who you are, what you want, and why. Know that, and you can use your voice fearlessly to fight for what is meaningful to you. I’m not saying you should fight for everything, especially if that approach is uncomfortable for you. Some things may not be worth the energy for you, and that’s an intentional decision.

I do believe you should lean into your convictions. Be aware of what's really important to you so you know what’s worth the fight. If you don’t, you might regret not speaking up when you should have.

You are your best advocate in the world. How can you get what you want if you don’t know who you’re fighting for?

When your moment comes, what will you do? Will you hide behind a mask, clamoring to be who everyone else wants you to be? Or will you bring yourself, your true self, so you can courageously use your voice to champion what you want?

The second option is the more challenging of the two, but that’s not a reason to avoid it. Freedom is rarely given, it’s earned. The road to freedom is paved with authenticity if you're brave enough to take a chance.