Staying True to Your Authentic Self
Written by Randi Fine, Narcissistic Abuse Expert
Narcissistic Abuse Awareness and Guidance with Randi Fine
Being your authentic self is difficult in a world that discourages individuality. Every day a barrage of forces tells us what to believe, what to think, how to look, and how to live our lives. We are bombarded with information coming from television, social networks, and the World Wide Web. The pressure is on to conform to political standards, religious standards, family standards, financial standards, and the standards of popular culture icons.
We are also subject to the unsolicited judgment of our friends, family, and peers particularly when our actions, choices, or decisions do not agree with theirs.
Judgment hits us hardest when we are vulnerable to its insinuations--when we have unresolved conflict or do not feel good about ourselves.
Our self-concept is comprised of the beliefs we have about our self-identity, self-worth, and self-image. It is shaped by the people in our life, our life experiences, and the impressions we personally attach to those experiences. Our self-concept is what shapes our perceptions and the way we experience life.
Our self-concept defines our personal truth; who we believe we are in relation to the people and world around us.
Developing an authentic self involves staying true to our vision and our values; living life on our terms no matter what external pressure is being put on us or who is judging us. It means loving, respecting, trusting, and honoring ourselves whether others do or not. It means taking responsibility for the life we live and having faith in our choices.