Authenticity
Authenticity /ˌôTHenˈtisədē/ Noun
~the quality of being genuine or real
Authentic /ə-ˈthen-tik/ Adjective
1. true to one's own personality, spirit, or character
2. not false or imitation
I've been thinking back to a post I made in 2021 as I reflect on the concept of authenticity, particularly for creators and facilitators like me. I'm also navigating the challenges of social media and AI technology, which feel inescapable these days. As I work towards becoming a licensed therapist and as a fellow human being, it's crucial for me to present myself honestly. I believe that the energy I bring to the spaces I create should be genuine, as this helps cultivate safety and alignment. Ultimately, it also fosters true intimacy.
In a way nothing really is original I understand that and I am familiar with the idea that imitation is flattery but I don’t necessarily agree. To be inspired by others is a given. Anyone, anything can be inspiring! Most of everything has been done but what makes something authentic is integrating your own spirit into what you create. It comes from a deep place of knowing yourself and feeling worthy of who you are as a unique individual. It doesn’t become some reproduction of someone else’s life, persona, values. It’s your very special way of seeing and feeling, your special way of remixing it all to materialize it into the world. But when you try to be emulate, be like someone else you can just feel it lacks any real weight of authenticity. You just blatantly take someone else’s form of expression and try to pass it as your own then that is not inspiration that is imitation. And that doesn’t serve anyone really.
I see that happening within social media immensely. People work hard to create beautiful valuable and real experiences, then someone just comes along and says I’m going to skip all that, the real engagement, exploration, the hands-on personal “living it” that is involved in creating authentic life and work. That is the beauty of diversity that everyone sees the world and experiences it in such an intimate personal way. We all have our unique gifts and lived experiences. If you have a bunch of people just pretending to be someone else or something they're not then you have a huge homogenized world lacking aliveness, innovation and real integrated growth. Reminds me of a scene from Pink Floyds “Another Brick in the Wall” three part video. If you haven’t watched it, go check it out!
It is particularly important to consider this aspect when incorporating spirituality into your work. When one is informed by trauma, it becomes essential to respect the well-being of others and to be conscious of the potential harm that may arise from engaging without integrity.
