Authenticity

/ɔːθɛnˈtɪsɪti/

The degree of freedom you have to express and be yourself despite external pressures to conformity.

I have been journeying with what authenticity means for my life this year. A beautiful friend of mine recently just shared with me that I am seen and known as I am by God. That there is no need to become someone I am not. No need to perform my identity. This came at the exact time I was questioning my voice and feeling a lack of confidence in being heard audibly. I hadn't told her that so it was definitely a cool God moment, as it revealed He saw and heard me.

There is often pressure to be someone you are not. For myself, this pressure was largely coming from within. I was feeling that in the sense my personality is not the outgoing type.

But that is okay.

I realize now it is silly to try to fit into a mold that is not my own. Imagine a circle trying to be a triangle. Not necessarily possible... Ha ha. Despite this I know there is of course room to grow into yourself, adapt and change. But in comparing myself I lost sight of the source of my identity as a daughter of God.

In my language teaching course, this past semester the word 'authentic' popped up continually funnily enough. We focus on the importance of using authentic materials to teach language as it allows for meaningful learning to occur. This type of input informs the acquisition of language at a cognitive level- increasing their retention and ability to retrieve the new language from long-term memory.

I perceive that is the same for my journey. I must be rooting myself in a meaningful space to allow for my relationship to deepen with God. This is a space of renewal and life. No pressure to perform or construct myself in a certain way. As I spend more time in constant awareness of Him in my every day I grow more into the fullness of my identity. I realize I must operate from this space within to be living life authentically.

Despite all the external and internal pressures there may be, I am recognizing the importance of choosing to be true to myself and who I am created to be.

Don't be afraid to embrace who you really are.

Be authentic.