Be a new person with authenticity
Integrity and authenticity have become central to my outlook on life. For a long time, I felt the pressure to fake things, to mold myself into something I wasn’t just to keep up in this race of life. It seemed like the only way to win was to fit into someone else's version of success, and I constantly found myself pretending, putting on a mask to meet expectations. But now, I've realized that none of this is necessary. I don’t need to compromise my values or who I am to get ahead.
True integrity, to me, is staying committed to what I believe in, even when it's difficult or unpopular. It's about being honest, not just with others but with myself, too. Authenticity, on the other hand, is living in a way that reflects my true self, without fear of judgment or rejection. I'm learning that I can do things in my own way, at my own pace, and still achieve what I want in life. By being true to myself, I can face life’s challenges with confidence, knowing that I'm not sacrificing who I am just for temporary gains.
Being authentic also means being willing to tell the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it might be. Whether it’s admitting my own vulnerabilities or being honest with others, I’ve come to see that honesty and openness lead to deeper, more meaningful connections. Integrity and authenticity now guide my actions and decisions, and it feels freeing to embrace my individuality.
What do you all think is there is a importance of integrity and authenticity in life ?
How you manage this in your life?
@Feelfree667
I like how your view of authenticity relates to integrity and staying committed to your values. We often forget about values when we talk about our authentic self and rather focus on desires.
@Feelfree667
I really loved the way the IDG course explained integrity and authenticity! When I taught about these important skills, I always explained it that authenticity is being true to who you are and to what you believe, while integrity is being true to those self-evident truths/principles (morals, ethics, etc)that are external to yourself. So, being authentic is being true and genuine to yourself and integrity is being true and genuine with others. They are very interrelated and both involve self-awareness, vulnerability, and honesty (doing the right things even when no one is looking), and both are extremely important.
For me, and the way I’ve always taught others in regard to cultivating integrity and authenticity, I say to start with authenticity by honoring your values, setting boundaries, engage in self-expression and expressing gratitude, practicing self-acceptance and mindfulness. For integrity, start with defning your values and setting clear standards; then, be consistent, practice accountability, lead by example, and engage in self-reflection.
All in all, it’s all about connecting internally to who you are to foster authenticity and externally to the people around you to build integrity.
@Feelfree667
It's great that you have embraced your values and who you are in order to step into your authentic and true self. That is genuinely commendable and amazing!
I do indeed think that integrity and authenticity are important in life, because not only do they help you to be in alignment with your values, which consequently makes your life meaningful and fulfilled, but also garner trust amongst others and allow you to establish strong, healthy relationships.
My fear of judgement used to hold me back from being honest and true to my core values and beliefs. It wasn't necessarily that I was faking it, but that I would either comes across as distant to others or restrict myself from social interactions through self-isolation. Self-reflection and introspection through journaling has helped me to overcome and navigate what it meant to display integrity and authenticity.
There is also this quote that I truly resonate with and has become an inspirational reminder for me; "If you let people's perception of you dictate your behaviour, you'll never grow as a person. But if you leave yourself open to experience, despite what others think, then you will learn and grow." - George Feeny.
@Feelfree667 indeed it is very important , it is the part of my inner compass too
@Feelfree667
For me, integrity in my life is something I value very highly. To me integrity is making sure that the things you say and the things you do are in alignment.
In so far as authenticity, that's super important in my life too. For me authenticity means the courage to be yourself.
