Living an authentic life is often hard to define for many individuals because authenticity can look different for each person. Living an authentic life means you are living your life on your terms. Our surrounding society has a predetermined set of morals and values that we assume we have to follow. It is necessary to let go of these preconceived obligations to live an authentic life, being true to yourself.
The Importance of Authenticity
Authenticity can have many benefits that contribute to the success of your recovery. It is an important factor in recovery so that you can further understand your needs moving forward.
Self-Respect
As you increase your level of authenticity, your self-respect will begin to drastically improve. If you are following your values and living life within your regulations, you can establish a strong sense of respect for yourself. Each action you take and good deed you do comes from your desire to help others and better yourself. As you live life through this mindset, your level of self-respect will naturally increase. This is a great benefit to have throughout the process of recovery, as it can help you better all aspects of yourself and improve your self-image and self-sufficiency.
Respect of Others
Respect is an interesting thing, as it often is given in greatest measure to individuals who respect themselves and are confident in who they are. Living a life of authenticity requires you to live on your terms and be your true self in the process. While this lifestyle may seem intimidating and may prompt fears of judgment, it tends to do the opposite.
When you are being yourself, you will gain the respect of others and create healthy relationships with individuals who enjoy who you truly are. You are letting go of the societal stigmas you attempt to follow to fit in and allow people to see you for you.
Find Your True Potential
When you establish clear motives for your goals and live a life of authenticity, it is much easier to determine your purpose and potential in life. We are each here for a reason, all having positive aspects to contribute to the world around us. Being authentic is an excellent way to help discover your true potential. This can be extremely important in recovery, as it can give you a sense of purpose to move forward. When you have clear guidelines and expectations of your purpose moving forward, you are more likely to reach your goals and create a realistic plan to get to the next step in your recovery process.
Implementing Authenticity
While many individuals can understand the importance and potential benefits of living an authentic lifestyle, implementing authenticity and actively living this way is a different story. It is not always easy to implement this lifestyle, as living authentically often requires deep self-awareness and mindfulness. Luckily, there are practical ways you can begin to implement authenticity.
Mindfulness Meditation
A great way to begin your journey of authenticity is to inhabit the meditative space of mindfulness. By becoming aware of your surroundings and your situation in the present, you can look at moving forward with a clear viewpoint. Mindfulness helps you see the world as it truly is, promoting a lifestyle of authenticity.
Think of Authenticity as a Process
Living an authentic life does not happen overnight. There are many factors involved with this state of living and developing an authentic mindset. Authenticity is often correlated with three key concepts: consistency, conformity, and connection.
Consistency
To live a life full of authenticity, consistency is important. Reviewing the behaviors you consistently engage in, you can determine if you are sustaining habits that influence your life of authenticity. If you find you are consistently engaging in habits that go against your moral standards or desires, it may be a good time to reflect on your consistent engagements.
It is also helpful to consistently implement habits that increase your authenticity, as consistency is necessary to take practice and turn it into habitual action. Many of the adjustments you make throughout treatment will take time to implement. Living a life of authenticity takes time to achieve and develop.
Conformity
Conformity observes the relationship between an individual and the environment in which they live. You can ensure that your surroundings—people, jobs, volunteer opportunities, and places you frequent—align with your ultimate goals and motives.
Connection
In the concept of authenticity, connection is used to observe the correlation between an individual and an object with which they are associated. This object often describes a key role of the individual, as Picasso would be connected with one of his many famous paintings. Observing the emotions objects in your life bring you can help you determine if you are living your life authentically.
Authenticity is often overlooked in the journey of recovery. While authenticity can be hard to discover and understand, the lifestyle comes with a lot of benefits. Authenticity comes by being true to yourself, living up to your motives and expectations, and focusing on your needs. Some of the benefits of this lifestyle include increasing your level of self-respect, gaining respect from others, and finding your true purpose in life, as you will learn more about who you are deep down. These benefits can help you with your sobriety by empowering your sense of self and refraining from relying on a substance to enhance your feelings of self-love. Living an authentic life can allow you to be your true self as you move through the recovery journey. To learn more about the benefits of an authentic life while maintaining sobriety, reach out to Spero Recovery today at (303) 351-7888.
