From Fictional Self To Authentic Self

A new concept that seems to be going around a lot lately in the spiritual community is to be your ‘authentic self.’ But what does this really mean? How do you know who your authentic self is? Heck, you may say, “I’m still trying to find out what my life purpose is, never mind who I truly am!”

Well, as a result of our education, our upbringing, our family dynamics, our job, and such, when we are asked the question “who are you,” we resort to answers such as: a mom, a dad, engineer, doctor, janitor. We tend to express our identity by what work we do, what credentials we have, and what society or our community has told us to be. We are bombarded by social, political, environmental and family expectations that can overwhelm us in modern life.

On top of this, the world today seems to be in chaos. There is distrust everywhere, and we have to contend with challenges like identity theft and social peer pressure. Yet, we are now also expected to know our authentic self? “God, help me, I don’t have time to look for that! I have the kids to take care of, work deadlines to keep, dinner and laundry to do, and I urgently need to sign up for an exercise program to reduce my weight!”

It is never ending, you say. Your authentic self is somewhere, you just don’t know where and no time to find it. But that is just the point! All these things we are expected to do are there because of the pressure we put on ourselves. As we look through our colored lenses of self-inflicted expectations and the social pressure we have learned from family or peers, we lose touch with who we really are, and what we truly want.

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be ~ May Sarton

When you’re not living consistently in your authentic self, you feel incomplete, potentially depressed, with no inspiration or purpose – as if there is a hole in your soul. You find it easier to plod along on a path directed by colleagues, family and friends, rather than becoming who you really want to be. When you live a life that has you ignoring your true gifts and talents, while performing assigned or inherited roles instead, you are living as your fictional self.

The fictional self sends you false information about who you are and what you should be doing with your life. It blocks the information you need in order to maintain the connection with your authentic identity. Relying on information from the fictional self means you’re putting your trust in a broken compass. Living this way drains you of the critical life energy you need to pursue the things you truly value. You are a simply a supporting actor.

In reality the concept of the authentic self is extremely simple – it is the God-given core of you. It is that part of you that is connected to the Divine Source. It is your unique talents, gifts, and self-expression. It is also love, peace, harmony and the ability to traverse all that comes your way. It is all of the pieces that enable us to have a joyous, uplifting life; that part that came with a clear purpose and identity.

Your authentic self is the part of you that at birth was untainted and complete, yet needed to learn to express itself in life. But during that time of exploring individuality and the expression thereof, your family or community perhaps clouded everything for you, or didn’t believe in you. If you were fortunate to have been born into a loving, confident and supportive family, you may have been able to commence your path of expression in a more positive manner. Many of us, however, may not have been so fortunate.

No one man can, for any considerable time, wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which is the true one ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

Maybe a tragedy in your life resulted in a change in your path and you were not sure how to reconnect with Source. Some of us, who had a tough start to life, actually connect with who we truly are and follow our instincts, our dreams and passions regardless, and ultimately manage to achieve success. Others get caught in believing they have little to achieve.

May people are happy in their adventures, relationships, careers initially in life, but begin to question that there must be more to life. Many of us remain in dead-end jobs or destructive relationships, rather than rediscovering our passion. In time, that dissatisfaction is put out to the Universe and the Universe responds by supporting our creation of lack and unhappiness. This mindset is predominant for many who have had themselves displaced in jobs, relationship separation, illness, loss in family.

The key is to re-realize your greatness. Are you currently in that place where you have fulfilled your fictional character evolution? Has your path been not to honor who you truly are, but to follow a script you have adjusted and rewritten through your life’s adventures and misadventure? Then it is now time to wake up and reconnect with our authenticity – your authentic self.

For me the authentic self is your true self that requires you to ensure you feel emotionally safe, that you have created an environment that has you comfortable in expression of your needs, expression of your value system, and your core values. Your authentic self is the unique combination of all your skills, knowledge, interests, talents, limits, personal experiences, memories, beliefs and ability to be vulnerable. It is the acknowledgement of where you are right now in time, as well as your strengths, weaknesses and quirky idiosyncrasies.

We need to find the courage to say no to the things and people that are not serving us if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity ~ Barbara De Angelis

Your authentic nature may best be revealed by what you truly enjoy or what you do in your free time. What gives you pleasure – music, nature, helping others, reading, art, activism? Be of spiritual integrity and do what you say you will do and strive to be a role-model. It takes time to “know thyself,” as it is scripted in the Adelphi Temple.

Exploration of self and looking at what ‘makes you tick’ will take you back to your authentic self. Be patient, find that authenticity and watch your world expand and grow. You will in time notice how fears, despair, unhappiness begin to dissolve away and material and spiritual abundance move in to your life temple. Live your passion, fly like an eagle, travel the world, write that book. Whatever you do, do it with authenticity.