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13 steps toward finding yourself—which isn’t your average game of hide-and-seek
“To that point, there is no cut-and-dry definition for what it means to find yourself, and that’s precisely why being able to do it (and identify that you’ve done it) can be so hard. ‘I see it as cultivating a deep understanding of yourself—what’s important to you, what motivates you, why you respond and react as you do, and your values,’ says psychologist Erika Martinez, PsyD. In addition to figuring out where you stand on things, finding yourself also means feeling at peace with the person you’ve become, she says.”
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Childhood Trauma: How We Learn to Lie, Hide, and Be Inauthentic
By being treated in these damaging ways, the child learns that being yourself is dangerous, that in order to survive and be at least marginally accepted by your caregivers, you have to hide who you really are: your thoughts, observations, feelings, and preferences.
Other times the child decides to lie to get their needs met, needs that otherwise would be completely ignored. For example, if the caregivers are emotionally distant, the child might lie or pretend that somethings going on just to receive some attention.
And, of course, if the child is routinely attacked or rejected for being authentic, they learn to hide and pretend. In many cases, to the degree where they gradually lose connection to their authentic self and have no idea anymore who they really are.
This is tragic. However, its important to realize that, as adults, we don’t have to be afraid of abandonment anymore. We don’t need our caregivers to survive. We can endure and deal with all these feelings of betrayal, hurt, distrust, shame, loneliness, anger, and many others.
As adults we can slowly untangle all of these problems and slowly rediscover who we really are. We also can start working on trusting others who actually are trustworthy. We can become authentic again.
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“Ego Traps • If you think it is more “spiritual” to ride a bike to work or use public transportation, but then find yourself judging anyone who drives a car, you’re in an ego trap. • If you think it is more “spiritual” to stop watching television because it rots your brain, but then find yourself judging those who still watch TV, you’re in an ego trap. • If you think it is more “spiritual” to avoid reading gossip, tabloid or news magazines, but then find yourself judging those who do read those things, you’re in an ego trap. • If you think it is more “spiritual” to listen to classical music or soothing nature sounds, but then find yourself judging those who listen to mainstream or pop music, you’re in an ego trap. • If you think it is more “spiritual” to do yoga, become a vegan, buy organic, buy healing crystals, practice reiki, meditate, wear hippie/thrift shop clothing, visit ashrams and read enlightened spiritual books, but then you judge anyone who doesn’t do those things, you’re in an ego trap. Always be aware of the feeling of superiority. Self-righteous superiority is your biggest clue that you are in an ego trap. The ego loves to sneak in the back door. It will take a noble idea, like starting up yoga, and then twist it to serve its own ends by making you feel superior to others; you will start to look down on those who are not following your righteous “spiritual” path. Superiority, judgment and condemnation. That is the ego trap.”
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“Honesty in art often refers to the sincerity, authenticity, and integrity of the artist’s expression. It’s about conveying genuine emotions, ideas, or experiences without pretense or manipulation. Honest art reflects the artist’s true vision and reflects their personal truth, even if it’s uncomfortable or unconventional.”
By ChatGPT
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“Where it gets interesting though is when ‘what is real vs what is true’ enters our daily lives.
Real but Not True
There are many things in your life that are real but not true. The main ones are the stories in your head and the feelings in your body.”
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Authenticity: The Deep Hurt of Hiding Your True Self
“We’ve all heard the expression, “live your truth.” It means knowing and being yourself without the need for external validation.”