5 considerations to promote authentic lives.
AUTHETIC ME is about getting back to basics. Authentic people are comfortable in their life.
What does it mean to be authentic:
We are secure in ourselves and we don’t doubt our instincts.
We display positive self-belief and self-awareness, which allows authentic people to fully participate in the world around us.
To be emotionally resilient we need to believe we are worthy.
We should display the confidence to apply the necessary skills and mindset for success.
We need to trust we can be the best in order to achieve all that life brings us.
So how do we do this?
It’s important we have a strong sense of purpose in life. Do we feel we belong? Do we recognise who surrounds us with love and support? Knowledge and understanding are valuable, but a strong sense of purpose is just as important. Children need to persevere and show optimism when interacting with others. We need to persevere when the going gets tough, reach for the stars to succeed and achieve dreams. Children have so many opportunities, they just need the reminders to dream.
When children are confident, challenges seem easy to achieve. They will stand up to the playground bullies, with an awareness of others and be able to regulate their emotional responses. Common social concerns won’t worry confident children. They have a greater understanding of social situations and when others are ‘having a bad day’ they can regulate behavior accordingly.
We thrive towards maintaining positive, supportive and authentic relationships. With our family, within the work environment and social interactions, our ability to interact with others can play an enormous part on our mental and emotional state. Initiating new relationships, resolving conflict, and showing compassion are life-long skills necessary for all social interactions. Allowing children to learn these skills, explicitly, will enhance their relationships and ours.
So what does authenticity mean? When we are being authentic we are being true to ourselves. We make decisions based on passion and interest not on societal or peer pressure. Authentic people are secure in themselves, they don’t shy away from the unknown but see new experiences as exhilarating challenges. Criticism or judgement from others doesn’t upset an authentic person who is confident in themselves. They can see what’s on the inside not just physical traits. Being authentic brings a level of curiosity towards what they hear and see. This level of curiosity is not followed blindly from parental or social beliefs but from research and beliefs about others and yourself. Getting to know yourself, feelings, thoughts and beliefs by spending time along is renewing for an authentic person. Expressing truths can be done through writing, socialising, support groups and friends.
Educating authentic children will lead to authentic adults. Adults who have a strong sense of purpose. Teaching the basics leads to authentic children. Children who have a strong sense of self, are emotionally resilient and can initiate and maintain positive relationships in all parts of their lives, authentically.
Bron Gowty is an end of life guide, kinesiologist and pastoral & spiritual carer.