What does it mean to Live Authentically?
The first part of my motto in my life and my work is “Live Authentically” but what does that really mean? Let’s break it down…
Live: Every day we breath, feel, think, travel, and act upon the world around us. In every moment of every day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, we encounter choices. We have the choice to act in a million different ways within our physical capabilities. The choices that we make are how we live our lives.
Authentically: Each person is unique thanks to complicated genomes and a lifetime of experiences. Even if scientists managed to create a perfect clone, no one else could possibly be a perfect copy because the clone wouldn’t carry the same memories in their neurons. As we live our lives, we develop a unique set of preferences, beliefs, and truths about ourselves. Authenticity is recognizing, embracing, and celebrating the things that make us unique.
To Live Authentically is to accept that your thoughts, beliefs, memories, and emotions are what makes up who you are. To Live Authentically is to make choices in each moment that resonate with you and act in accordance to what you want your life to be.
Not what your family and friends want your life to be. Not what your local government wants your life to be. Not what your school teachers wanted your life to be. Not what society tells you your life should be. To Live Authentically is to Live the Life You want.
When most people sit down in my office for the first time, they say they want to change or get rid of something painful. With Acceptance and Commitment therapy, I encourage my clients to reframe their goal into something like this: What life do you want to live?
Pain and discomfort is inevitable. We don’t yet have the technology to wipe our memories clean like a formatted hard drive, so we carry our experiences with us. The question is, do you let the pain control your life?
As much as my clients want to get rid of their pain, they often describe themselves and their present experiences through the lens of their pain. When faced with a choice in any given moment, they hold their pain up in front of them and make a decision based on how much it will add to or take away their pain. Acceptance is the act of allowing our pain to rest in the palm of our hand while Commitment is the act of making choices according to the life we want live.
If you’re ready to release your grip on pain and Live Authentically, schedule an appointment.
