A is for Authentic #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge – April 2016 1 Minute

A is for Authentic

Being authentic is not always easy. How often do we do something that we wouldn’t have done if it weren’t to please or because it was the way to do it? How often do we not stand and behind our own opinions? How often do we worry about the others (parents, friends, neighbours, colleagues, readers, etc) and their thoughts of us? How often do we not listen to our hearts? How often does the little negative voice in our heads keep us from being our true selves?

Over time, I have come to realise that I have not always been authentic, that I have not always been true to myself and that I have not always listened to my heart’s desire. Over the past year, I have come to realise this error and now I want to commit to changing it. There are so many things that I would have done differently had I been truly authentic. But rest assured, most of the time authenticity took overhand and made me decide to take action at a later moment in time. Like when I decided to drop Economics and only study Politics…

I hesitated for almost a year before I started my blog. Now really, what was I risking besides not being read? I was not even writing, even though it was my heart’s desire to do so.

Since the birth of my daughter I have made authenticity a priority, because I don’t parent like the parents in my neighbourhood, actually, I don’t know many parents as many kids are either looked after by a nanny or in a nursery from the age of 3 months onwards, which was not my heart’s desire.

Albert, an altruistic anaconda ate an apple at Anja‘s and Aaron’s annoying afternoon appetiser in Atlanta. 

During the month of April, I am participating in the A to Z Challenge, my theme is authenticity and eclecticism, which in my book go hand in hand.

Thank you for reading! Please feel free to leave a comment, to share this post on social media and to follow my blog…

© Solveig Werner 2016. All rights reserved.

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49 thoughts on “A is for Authentic #AtoZChallenge”

  1. There’s a quote that goes something like this: Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.
    Easier said than done, right? 🙂

    I LOVE the alliterative sentence! Really fun and Seussical. I LOVE Dr. Seuss.
    Enjoy the challenge!

    Writer In Transit

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    1. Thank you Michelle!
      It is definitely something that is easier said than done. Now that the A to Z Challenge has progressed I have caught myself thinking “oh but my readers won’t like that”. But then I do it anyways, because I have to stick with my theme…

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  2. I think the danger in being totally authentic, true to one’s own nature, is that it can so easily morph into the kind of self-centredness that rejects the compromises that are necessary to form a civilised society. Or am I totally wrong and simply being unauthentic? I don’t know, but I’ll certainly follow you this month to find out.

    Keith Channing at http://keithkreates.com

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    1. Mmm, I think that might happen if your true self is a self centred one. If the person who is authentic is someone who always helps others, then the risk of that will be slim.

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  3. Hmm, my thoughts have wandered! I started with your post and the two comments above which I think combine to “choose to be true to yourself as long it doesn’t hurt other people”. Then I started to think of those I’d rather were not true to themselves and, as so often these days, I arrived at Trump. If the self he shows is his real self I don’t want him to be true to it. But maybe it isn’t? Maybe he is not authentic and just whipping up a storm to get votes? Either way, he terrifies me. Hmmm – now see what you’ve done! But I guess stimulating thought is your purpose and therefore you have succeeded. Good luck with the rest of the challenge.
    The Glasgow Gallivanter

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  6. I really love your theme Solveig. Beautiful! I really strive to be authentic and don’t have a lot of challenges there these days as I’m keeping a low profile doing my writing but being honest as a writer and being truly authentic is challenging too because you no only need to be honest but you also need to provide a somewhat accurate picture to someone who doesn’t know you very well. That can be quite challenging.
    I don’t think you’ve read this post but I wanted to share this living poet who has been such an incredible inspiration to me: https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/flying-with-a-living-poet/
    See you tomorrow!
    xx Rowena

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  7. I think we all fall into the trap of doing something, not because we want to, but because others want us to. We let others walk over our desires and needs. Authenticity is so important. I’m glad you are shedding a light on this…good reminder!

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    1. Oh my I am so behind, but I guess that’s because I need time to breath…
      I think that being authentic can help us being truly happy.

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  9. Solveig, I am SO delighted that you have learned the importance of being authentic to yourself and your desires. Sadly, I didn’t learn that until I was much older than you. Also, it is important to stand up for yourself too, as I did not do that due to my mindset about having to respect superiors… OF course they knew better than me… wrong.

    I look forward to reading more. Great start!

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    1. Thank you Gwynn! When I look back in time I was always a bit sad or didn’t feel too well in my skin if I wasn’t authentic. Once I embrace the fact that I am very often different from others, I am happier…

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    1. Thank you for your nice comment Silvia. I do think many of us often make the mistake of being too cautious and not listening to our gut/heart.

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    1. Thank you Jean (sorry for being oh so late with my reply, but maybe I am being a bit too authentic here).
      Being authentic is hard at first, but now as the challenge is about to move into the last week, I must say that it’s turing into a habit 🙂

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  12. Such an interesting topic to choose, one I wonder about often. I came to blogging from a tradition which emphasized taking our thoughts and ideas and packaging that into a sort of online personality. While there was much talk about being authentic, it was the opposite of authentic. Looking forward to your series as we go through the AtoZ challenge.

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    1. I suppose that sometimes in our quest for authenticity we still want to fit in with the others who might actually be authentic, but different from us?

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    1. Thank you Sarina! I am glad that I am quite young while going on this mission, I see so many people lacking life’s joy and energy as they try to conform and want to fit in…

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  16. Right on, Solveig. I think we are born authentic and we shift as we get older, most often due to education and fear to appear different. It takes confidence to regain this authenticity. Good for you to stand for who you are and what you believe in. Hope to see again for the rest of the alphabet. Good luck.

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  18. Tricky one this; it’s true we should be but sometimes I think we need to hide because authenticity as I understand it, being true to oneself, can be hurtful to others. The white lie is a kindness at times. So if someone is naturally blunt, feels that serves them as a person best then I’d ask them, at times to hide that authenticity for the sake of others.

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  19. There’s a balance in all things – being true to yourself, and being kind to those around you. Most people behave differently in different situations. That’s all part of being self- and socially aware, and is not something to make you doubt your own “authenticity”. Interesting topic!

    Good luck with the rest of the challenge, fellow A-to-Z-er!

    Al from https://altheauthor.wordpress.com/

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  21. Love your theme – it’s so important to be true to yourself if for no other reason than to set an example for the kids coming up …your own and others 🙂 Good luck with the rest of the challenge.

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      1. I am – I just wish I had time to visit other blogs…I’m drowning just trying to keep up with my posts! Started ahead but am now behind lol

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