How authentic are you? Authenticity, or being true to oneself, is a moral state according to researchers from Northwestern University.(1)
Are you comfortable with yourself, comfortable expressing your beliefs and values? Do you know your own mind, or do you feel pressured to please other people, your parents, spouse or peer group?
The following are eight habits to become more in tune with who you really are, what you believe and how you want to live this one precious life.
Habits for Authentic Living
1) Seek silence.
Unplugging your brain from noise allows you to relax and think big thoughts. According to recent research, silence is actually good for your brain.(2)
In experiments on mice, Imke Kirste, a researcher at Duke University, found “... that two hours of silence per day prompted cell development in the hippocampus, the brain region related to the formation of memory involving the senses.”
More study is required to see if silence has the same effect on humans.
2) Keep a journal.
Author Joan Didion wrote, ““I don't know what I think until I write it down.” What defines you, upsets you or inspires you? Start writing daily to unearth your authentic self.
Writing about your deepest thoughts and feelings, studies show, results in improved physical health versus writing about emotionally neutral topics.(4)
Studies of people who practice expressive writing have shown them to have improved memory, mood and feelings of well-being.(4)
3) Practice expressing your opinion.
Some of us avoid expressing opinions for fear of rocking the boat or revealing undesirable parts of ourselves. Some of us avoid confrontation at any cost.
If you feel steamrolled in a conversation or argument, simply mentioning your disagreement can bring a sense of relief. Here are some suggestions on how to respectfully express a contrary opinion:
- “I see it differently.”
- “I disagree.”
- “Would you like to hear what I think?”
What do you care about? Syrian refugees? Literacy? Animal rights?
1) Francesco, Gino, et al. The Moral Virtue of Authenticity How Inauthenticity Produces Feelings of Immorality and Impurity. sagepub.com. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
2) Kirste, Imke et al. Is silence golden? Effects of auditory stimuli and their absence on adult hippocampal neurogenesis. NIH.gov. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
3) The Neuron. brainfacts.org. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
4) Emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing. RCPsych.org. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
5) Dahl, Melissa. How Prolonged Exposure to Sweet, Blessed Silence Benefits the Brain. NYMag.com. Retrieved September 28, 2016.