4 Keys to an Authentic Life

“Be yourself.”

You’ve seen those words a million times, on blogs, on ad campaigns, in movies, in books, and many other things. Since they’re used so often, they can seem cliché; even so, that phrase deserves all the credit it can get. It is the constant goal of anyone who wants to live an authentic life.

But how do we really live an authentic life? How do we really be ourselves? It’s not as easy as it sounds. A lot of vague concepts get thrown at us in our daily lives. To implement them, we need something concrete. So, here are the 4 keys to an authentic life.

1. Care

First, we have to take time to care for both ourselves and others.

To care for ourselves we have to consider two things, physical health and mental health. Maintaining good physical health requires exercise, healthy eating, and sleep. Mental health is often overlooked but is equally, if not more, important. Taking time to do things we enjoy and pampering ourselves a little can help with mental health.

Caring for others is one of the most important things in life. We can do this by giving and expecting nothing in return. And giving does not have to only consist of money. We can give our time or our attention also; these are sometimes more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you can’t get more time.

2. Creativity

Second, we have to use our creativity and knowledge on a regular basis.

We are all creative in our own ways, and contributing something we have invested in to the world is one of the most fulfilling things we can do. One of my creative outlets is my blog, but for some, it is designing a piece of furniture or solving a math problem. There are endless ways to be creative. Just find one that works for you and do it.

To be creative, we need to have material to work with. We can gain this material by reading, learning, experiencing, and traveling. Be a lifelong student. Never stop learning, and use the things you learn to fuel your creativity.

3. Connection

Third, we have to intentionally connect outside of ourselves, with our friends and family, our community, and God.

We are made to have relationships and connect with other people. We are made to support each other and fill in each other’s holes. Make time to have real conversations with friends and family, and get deep with one another. A life filled with shallow relationships is a sad one.

Communities have so many resources and ways to get connected. Volunteer, join a choir, act in a play, go to a book club. There is something for everyone, so go get involved! Doing this helps you love where you live and feel like you belong.

Connecting daily with God gives me perspective, reminds me what really matters, and motivates me to live out my values. As a Christian, I do a devotional and pray every day, and without this, I would be a much different person than I am.

4. Courage

Lastly, we have to have courage to ignore the haters and do what we know is right.

All of the things I mentioned above, caring, being creative, and connecting, require courage. This is the last piece of the puzzle. E. E. Cummings said, “To be nobody but myself-in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make me somebody else-means to fight the hardest battle any human can fight, and never stop fighting.” It takes a big dose of bravery to live your authentic life; you will meet daily opposition, and its important to always remind yourself to have courage. It is helpful to have a tangible object that helps you to remember to always be brave. I recently got a necklace that says ‘brave’ and when I’m wearing it, it’s a constant reminder to be my most courageous self.

Reject the Status Quo

It’s easy to let society dictate what you are supposed to be. It’s hard to be true to your personality, values, and goals. Some days, we just want to do what everyone else is doing. But we can refuse to allow ourselves to follow the crowd.

We can care.

We can create.

We can connect.

We can have courage.