INSIDE: Knowing how to be authentic is not always easy. We are used to pleasing others and complying with external rules to feel that we belong. Here's a guide to help!

 

Are you wondering how to be your authentic self without worrying what other people think about you? To an extent, we all feel that way. But there is hope.

Back in the day, it was frowned upon to break out of the mold and follow an independent path. It was more important to comply and go unnoticed than to follow the call of your inner self.

However, authenticity is being increasingly encouraged nowadays. We are now aware that all people came into this life with a unique mission to fulfill.

Exploring your talents and expressing them freely is the best way to accept, love, and celebrate your authentic self.

When it comes to knowing how to be authentic, here are some benefits to get you inspired:

• Less anxiety
• Increased self-confidence
• Ability to deal with problems
• Realize your full potential

How to be Authentic: 9 Practical Tips

Being authentic is a very appealing concept, but don't feel bad if you don't know how to start. It takes courage and confidence to just "be you" without worrying about other people's judgment and opinions. 

The good news is that it doesn't have to be such a scary concept.

Here are 9 practical tips about how to be authentic...

Tune Into Your Body

Our body is very wise and knows what we are feeling since it's not contaminated with our prejudices and psychological fears.

Try listening to your body's feedback every time you hear a lie about yourself. If you say something untrue out loud, your body will react negatively to that statement.

When you do or say something that your authentic self dislikes, your body will try to tell you through a heavy feeling in your stomach.

That's why most people get a headache or stomach discomfort after spending a lot of time doing something they don't like.

As long as you are true and consistent with your authentic self's needs, your body will always respond with a sense of relief and overall well-being.

Get in tune with your body and use it as an inner compass to know how to be your authentic self.

Spend Time Journaling

Some people don't know how to be authentic because they are very disconnected from their inner selves.

If this is true for you, you can perform a process of self-discovery by journaling. Take a piece of paper and write down everything that goes through your mind without judgment.

Try to fill in at least three pages every day until you get clearer about who you are and what you really want in your life.

Within a short time, you will begin to align with your core being, and it will become easier for you to express your authentic self.

Strive for Humanity, Not Perfection

One of the biggest obstacles when looking at how to be authentic has to do with the constant search for perfection.

We are used to revealing only the sunny side of our personality and covering up in the depths of our unconscious, which we judge as wrong.

However, nobody is perfect! Everyone at some point feels anger, envy, jealousy, and pain. This kinds of feelings does not make you a bad person; it just makes you human.

One of the most important steps to free your true self is to allow yourself to make mistakes and not strive for perfection.

Be yourself with all the good and bad sides without apologizing for it.

Use Crystals That Bring Courage

Let's face it. It's not easy to be yourself in such a judgmental world. If you are struggling to express your authentic self, courage is the antidote to help you in this process.

You can build the courage to be yourself by using these powerful crystals for courage. They will clear your chakras and release the blockages that are keeping you stuck in fear.

• Carnelian: Balances the sacral chakra and root chakra, making it an excellent grounding crystal for courage
• Hematite: Strengthens the root chakra, helping you strengthen your self-confidence
• Bloodstone: Cleanses the lower chakras to make you feel supported and secure when pursuing your dreams
• Tiger's Eye: Cleans the solar plexus, sacral, and root chakras, helping you build courage during life transitions
• Red Jasper: Balances the root and sacral chakra, bringing more stability to your life
• Garnet: Offers clarity when navigating challenging situations
• Pyrite: Clears the solar plexus chakra, which helps to reduce anxiety and build self-esteem

Practice Non-Judgement  

People who judge others are often the least able to express their most authentic selves.

These individuals constantly judge their own movements, decisions, actions, and thoughts, externalizing a level of rigidity that they tend to have with themselves.

If this is true for you, practice being less critical. If you are figuring out how to be authentic, you need to be more flexible and open-minded towards others and yourself.

Don't be so hard on yourself, and you will see how you loosen up when relating to other people.

Be More Intentional

Sometimes you just need to be more conscious about who you are and what you want to start expressing about your authentic self.

When we set intentions, it gives us an opportunity to design and be in charge of your experience on this Earth.

For example, if you want to start being more straightforward with your opinions at your workplace, set an intention before entering your office every day that says:

"Today, I will be honest with my colleagues when they ask my opinion."

By being more intentional, you will remember to be more authentic in your everyday life.

Balance Your Solar Plexus & Throat Chakras

You can find the solar plexus chakra in your stomach and it's the one that is in charge of your self-confidence, motivation, and sense of purpose. When it's out of balance, you might suffer from low self-esteem and feel insecure when making decisions.

Likewise, the throat chakra is responsible for your communication skills and ability to speak your inner truth. It's essential to balance these two chakras in the process of learning how to be authentic.

You can open and balance your solar plexus chakra by repeating positive affirmations about yourself and your personal power, healing from past traumas, and listing your strengths and positive qualities.

In the case of the throat chakra, you can find time for journaling. Practice easy ways to communicate your opinions to start unblocking this important energetic center.

Start Small

Showing your true identity can be a challenging choice, and it's best to start with small steps to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

For example, you can determine if your wardrobe matches your tastes and get rid of those things that don't reflect your personality.

Then you can do the same with the music you listen to, the places you visit, the kind of people you hang out with, and so on.

Go Within

Living a life based on an external idea of happiness will only lead to frustration. The only way to understand how to be authentic is to go within and connect with your spiritual journey.

Try to spend more time alone and discover all those things going on in your inner self. You will notice that you will eventually need less of the external world to be happy. 

Final Thoughts

It is becoming more and more accepted to be as unique as possible, making it easier to connect with our talents and express our truth to the rest of the world. 

However, we are still part of a judgmental and critical society, making it difficult for shy people to fully embrace their authentic selves.

But it's never too late to start! Get to know yourself better and take small steps towards liberating yourself.