Authenticity, Integrity, Empathy, oh my!

So many words have been taunting me lately. It used to be one word that I would come back to every time things seemed to break out into chaos. That word was authenticity. If I ensure that I am being my most authentic self during every interaction that’s good enough. It’s all we can do.

But, in order to be authentic you have to make difficult choices. What is authenticity? Brene Brown describes it as a daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are. It means we accept we are imperfect, and yet still worthy of setting healthy boundaries.

It means we can exercise our compassion because we are all made of strength and struggle, and those in struggle need to borrow our strength from time-to-time. It’s choosing to nurture connections that offer us a true sense of belonging because we have chosen to believe we’re worthy of belonging.

If you’re going to be authentic it means you have to become whole hearted in all that you do. If your whole heart isn’t in it you don’t do it. But always you show up as loving and kind, even when it’s hard. Even when shame tries to rear its ugly head. The moment you feel defensive that’s a sign to pause.

We were all raised with a certain bias. We see things through that lens. Part of being authentic is recognizing that first. If you…