Authenticity

What does it mean to be authentic? To be an authentic person. Are we all authentic just by the simple fact of being alive human beings? Or are there degrees of authenticity? Are there things we can do or ways we can be to become more authentic, thereby experiencing a higher quality of life? I think there are ways to be that move us more toward authenticity. These include:

• Having a high degree of passion about the things we do which come from the choices we make vs. sleepwalking through our choices and showing lukewarm commitment
• Acting from a master mentality vs. a slave mentality (proactive vs. reactive).
• Coming from a place of cause vs. a place of effect
• Accepting control (and the associated responsibility and accountability with no excuses) of our lives vs. making excuses and blaming or crediting others for our failures or successes
• Knowing ourselves at a deep level to fuel authentically individualistic choices and expressions that are true to our nature
• Seeking a deep understanding of a few things vs. idle curiosity about a plethora of superficial trivia and distractions
• Engaging in critical, rich thinking vs. rearranging the furniture in our minds
• Saying something when we speak vs. idle chatter or chit-chat
• Treating people as ends in themselves vs. means to an end
• Making choices as if they would become law for everyone vs. choosing haphazardly

I'm sure there are more and the ones listed deserve much more exploration. But, I need to go to the Jazz Festival, so I will leave it as an exercise for the reader.