‘What Does Being Authentic Really Mean?’
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Entering into a therapeutic relationship offers the opportunity to explore who we really are. It is an invitation to no longer remain hidden and to risk being truly seen.
"Attempting to be authentic is very difficult; it’s not something that we are naturally inclined to do, as often we build our personality structures to defend against our authentic selves. This often happens as a defence from what we perceive of ourselves and the outside world and how we are expected to be to fit into this world."
"Without acknowledging and owning our full sense of self we deny our internal sense of power, courage, and self-worth. All of our qualities and flaws are projected onto other people, or we carry distortions (such as, having an expensive bag shows I’m of higher worth; being in any relationship shows I’m loveable). Yet these in reality don’t ring true to what might be happening inside. What we cannot connect with inside ourselves we seek outside ourselves, and thus begin an inauthentic relationship with the world. Yet when we can connect with our inner resources and don’t need to seek beyond ourselves we are fuller in our lives and relationships. We are thus more authentic.”
