The unauthenticity of the authentic self

There’s lots of talk these days about being authentic. What does this even mean? Let’s look into it.

Authentic: It used to root back to the word, “authority”. That is one acting on one's own authority. But these days it is more closely correlated to the word “genuine” would you say?

Let’s take that meaning: genuine. To be a genuine self :). Which implies to know who you really are - deep down. Maybe it’s the ‘part’ of you that isn’t concerned with what others think. Being genuine happens when your words, actions, and behaviors consistently match your core identity. It is said to be an essential part of building meaningful relationships.

Now, look at this again: being genuine, or authentic means your words and action consistently match who you are. Do you know who you are? Are you an individual? Are you fully aware of the things you like, and don’t like; your beliefs; your attachments; your idealisms? Are these the things that make up your core identity?

And by sticking to these things, “walking your talk” so to speak, that makes you authentic, genuine? And so, that implies you are different from another person that also calls themself authentic, genuine, because they too have beliefs, idealisms, likes, dislikes, attachments. I wonder if you see this? So, each of us has created an identity, a “self” and to be true to that “self” we act and behave accordingly. With 8 billion, pardon the pun, self-created “selfs” in this world, do you see how we will struggle to be truly one? Are you interested in understanding this?

To be an authentic self, to the writer, implies that you are honoring a self that has separated you from the rest of humankind. And if you are genuine to that self, then you commit to continue living a life in illusion. You commit to contributing to the mindset of the entire humanity, which is structured the same way as you… divided for thousands upon thousands of years. This division of humans, of beliefs, of countries has caused immense violence in the world - IMMENSE pain and suffering and yet, we insist on being our authentic self. And you go on living this way repeating and rinsing generation upon generation.

When will it end? The self is nothing but an illusion, deceiving you to have you believe it exists. That it is something separate from you. When you see the trouble of the self, the danger of it, you wouldn’t dare touch it.

Love and light,
GC