Definition
A way of living and speaking in accordance with his experience and values, without pretending to have a fixed and transparent identity.
Being authentic does not mean saying everything we think. It requires keeping together sincerity, responsibility, context and respect for privacy.
To be retained
- Distinguish sincerity and impulsivity
- Accepting an evolving identity
- Aligning acts and values
- Maintaining respect for others
Origin of the term and context
Authentic comes from the Greek authentikos, "who acts by himself, who is authoritative." The modern concept has developed in existential philosophy and humanistic psychology.
Why does it matter?
Perceived consistency between values and actions is often associated with wellbeing, but identity is evolving, and the search for pure authenticity can become a pressure or pretext to hurt.
- Distinguish sincerity and impulsivity
- Accepting an evolving identity
- Aligning acts and values
- Maintaining respect for others
How can it be explored or practised?
- Name an important value and an act
- Say a quiet "no" when necessary
- Recognise a contradiction without condemnation
- Choose what is legitimately within the scope of the
Misconceptions and points of caution
- "I'm like this" can avoid any liability.
- Unveiling everything is not always safe.
- An identity is never completely isolated from relationships.
Perspectives from different traditions
- Existentialism: assume his freedom and his choices.
- Humanist psychology: congruence between experience and expression.
- Quakerism: testimony of truth and simplicity.
To go further
- Courage to Be Self — Jacques Salome
- On Becoming a Person — Carl Rogers