Living authentically means we feel what we want and express those feelings openly. It is important for us to remain authentic because it’s the only way we can grow and communicate with others on a deeper level. To be who we really are requires courage and self-acceptance. It becomes liberating and empowering as well.
Glennon Doyle Melton is right when she says, “Fitting in does not lead to living an authentic life. It leads to never being fully alive.” Recovery teaches you to stand up for yourself, speak up for what you need, and be courageous enough to live authentically. The 12-step programs, based on the Alcoholics Anonymous model, all use the concept of authenticity as part of their foundation.
What is authenticity and why does it matter
Authenticity means being true to your own identity, interests, and desires without conforming to the expectations of others. In recovery, this is important because it can be easy to lose yourself as you try to fit in with friends and family who may not share your values and goals for the future. Especially as kids, our environment plays a huge role in shaping who we are and what our priorities in life turn out to be.
Eventually, it does come down only to you who can choose how much your environment can influence who you really want to become. This is why it’s important to maintain a positive sense of self-esteem and not be swayed by the pressure to fit in with mainstream society when entering recovery.
How to create more authentic action
The first step on the path to authenticity is to be true to your values. Re-evaluate what matters to you currently and write them down. These values are what let you know who you are and help you make decisions about how to live your life, so it’s important that they’re aligned with your principles and beliefs.
This means taking time to reflect on what makes you happy, as well as times when your priorities might have shifted or changed. Knowing when to stay true to your values, when you need to adjust them, and what course of action will help you achieve these things is essential for living authentically.
How can I stay authentic?
Staying true to our values and beliefs (what psychologists call “identity”) means being honest about who you are – even if it makes some people uncomfortable – and being clear about what you stand for. Dr. Matt Delgado teaches that when living authentically, the key is to align your thoughts with your actions to avoid acting out in ways that are inconsistent with who you say you are.
The more we are ourselves, the happier we will be, and this happiness spreads to others around us. Authenticity isn’t always easy, but it will give you the satisfaction you’re looking for.
What does authenticity in recovery look like?
As we learn to live authentically in recovery, we take responsibility for our feelings and emotions. Once we identify how we feel about a particular situation and whether or not it matches up with what someone else is doing, we’re able to stand up for ourselves. Authenticity in recovery means staying true to yourself first. 
Recovery provides many opportunities to overcome difficult temptations and narratives that would otherwise compromise your values for approval or convenience. It takes strength and courage, but it’s worth it because you’ll be happier knowing who you are inside.
The importance of staying true to yourself during the process of recovery
When we stay true to ourselves and stop worrying about what others think, we open ourselves up to a whole new world of possibilities. We align ourselves with those that are also on a similar path and same frequency. 
When we’re trying to please everyone else, we often miss out on what makes our life amazingly unique because we’re focusing on unrealistic expectations that other people have created for us.
Ways to stay authentic in daily life
Here are a few tips for living authentically:
1. Be true to your values: Do you know what’s most important to you in life? What sacrifices are you willing to make for your deepest beliefs? Knowing the answers to these questions will help guide your actions.
2. Be true to yourself: Authenticity is about being the same person in every environment, regardless of who is around you.
3. Remove people from your life who don’t accept you as you are – We all have people who are unable to see us for who we truly are. These types of relationships aren’t healthy, and they will only drag you down as you try to grow as a person. Continue to surround yourself with those who accept the real you, your struggles, and your successes.
4. Be conscious of your actions: Acting from a place of authenticity is about being aware of what you’re doing and why. Are your actions consistent with the type of person you want to be?
5. Don’t let fear control you: Being authentic doesn’t mean that it’s always easy, especially if you’re afraid of changing or revealing yourself to others. You may not understand why someone is treating you negatively and wish you were liked. Being authentic is learning to be comfortable with yourself and knowing that you’ll be okay regardless of what happens.
6. Overcoming challenges: Despite the benefits of authenticity, it can be a challenge to achieve. You may not know exactly who you are or how to go about being authentic in your daily life.
7. Provide yourself with time and space: Authenticity is about being real. Provide yourself with some time and space so that you can reflect on the things that are most important to your values. As well as all of the factors that go into making these decisions.
8. Practice honesty with others: Even when you’re not trying to be authentic, others may see through it when you try to hide or keep things from them. When you are true to yourself, your whole life is more rewarding.
9. Be willing to take risks: Sometimes the only way to show the real you is by taking a risk and being vulnerable. It doesn’t have to be something major, but it does take courage.
10. Be open to criticism: You are not infallible and neither is your idea of authenticity. It’s okay to make mistakes, receive criticism about the way you’re living, or change the way you think about things. Authenticity is a journey that never ends.
11. Ask for help: Don’t try to do everything yourself. Allow your friends and family to help you out when they can, especially if you’re struggling with how to live more authentically.
Ways to stay authentic in recovery
The best way to stay authentic in recovery is to detach your ego from the process. Separating the expectations and outcomes from the authentic act of truth itself. When we consciously detach from future events, expectations, and outcomes; we allow space to receive truthful feedback and authentic response.
Seek out people who will give you real, honest feedback. Learn to listen with an open mind and ear. We must let go of judgments, discrimination, and other limiting beliefs that may restrict our growth. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that eventually, everything works out. Usually in a much better fashion than we could have ever expected — only when we stay true to ourselves.
Staying authentic through therapy or support groups
When you’re going through a difficult time, it can be easy to become isolated from people who might help you get through that time.
Fitting into a specific group or mold can make recovering from alcoholism or drug addiction more challenging. It’s important to be open and honest about your values with the people you spend time with, whether that be friends or family.
Those who have shared similar experiences may be a particularly good source of support for those struggling with addiction and alcoholism.
Being transparent with others if we are struggling and need help
Many times, people are too ashamed of their struggles to ask for help themselves, so practicing transparency is important in recovery.
When people keep their friends and family in the dark about what’s going on, others cannot truly understand or have empathy. This has a negative impact on relationships with friends and family. When we have a safe space to be open and honest with each other, we can feel safe knowing that it’s okay to be ourselves.
Seek out communities of like-minded individuals such as our member’s community friends and family who you think will understand or can relate with what you’re going through.
Lead with kindness and create a safe environment for authenticity
It’s important to take care of ourselves and help others as we navigate life. We should be aware, however, that people may not always know what they need in the moment, so it’s best to practice patience and understanding as we encourage those around us to live authentically without judgment or discrimination.
What does the future hold for us if we continue to work toward authenticity?
When we recover authentically, the future only gets brighter! We begin to live a better quality of life both emotionally and physically. We have more energy for enjoying our days and letting go of stressors that are no longer relevant.
Take some time today to reflect on what living authentically means to you. It could be time to reevaluate and reach out for support. You have the power to transform your life and habits significantly. Satori Way is here to help set the stage with what is right for you, join us as a free member, and check out our 5-day course here!
