Authenticity: How to “Be Yourself”

We’re often told to “be true to ourselves:” to line-up the person we are on the outside with the person we are on the inside. In a word, to be authentic. But what does it really mean to “be who we are,” “get in touch with ourselves,” or to go full new-age “live in alignment with our higher purpose?”In this episode Dr. Rick and Forrest explore what authenticity is, where it comes from, and whether it’s actually a good thing to be more authentic. They talk about what we really mean when we use the word “authenticity,” the fragmented nature of the self, and problems with unregulated self expression. They then turn towards how we can include all of ourselves, act from our values, and become at peace with who we are. You can watch this episode on YouTube.Key Topics:0:00: Introduction2:35: How Rick thinks about authenticity6:10: Congruence, presentation, and the difference between honest and good13:45: A personal example of authenticity from Rick and Forrest17:00: Self-disclosure as a factor of intimacy19:45: What parts of ourselves are we being authentic to?23:15: Vulnerability and aspiration28:10: Carl Rogers’ idea of the perceived self and the ideal self33:20: Is self-improvement authentic?36:30: Unconditional positive regard, and embodiment40:10: Naming what you’re feeling, the vastness of the psyche, and self-honesty46:25: Having a secure environment for aspirational change48:45: Individualism, social roles, and intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation53:05: Archetypes, the shadow, and integration59:20: RecapSupport the Podcast: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.SponsorsFactor delivers fresh, never-frozen, fully prepared meals right to your door. Head to factormeals.com/beingwell50 and use code beingwell50 to get 50% off. The Turning Points podcast is BACK with a new season. Check out season 3 of Turning Points: Navigating Mental Health wherever you get your podcasts.Zocdoc helps you find expert doctors and medical professionals that specialize in the care you need, and deliver the type of experience you want. Head to zocdoc.com/being and download the Zocdoc app for FREE.Join over a million people using BetterHelp, the world’s largest online counseling platform. Visit betterhelp.com/beingwell for 10% off your first month!Want to sleep better? Try the Calm app! Visit calm.com/beingwell for 40% off a premium subscription.Finally get that project off the ground with Squarespace! Head to squarespace.com/beingwell for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch use coupon code BEINGWELL to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.Connect with the show:Subscribe on iTunesFollow Forrest on YouTubeFollow us on InstagramFollow Forrest on Instagram