How Authentic Are You?

By Susan “Honey” Good

Yesterday, someone said, “Everyone wears a mask because no one is 100% authentic because of the human need to wear a protective shield.”

I thought about the comment and said, “You are right.”

I am drawn to authentic women, women who are not afraid to show their vulnerability; their true self. They have no superficiality.

Women in this category have the capacity to develop deep, supportive and bonding relationships. Many other women wear a mask at specific times for specific reasons. I understand. There are also women who wear too many masks or unsavory masks and must be quite unhappy. This, I do and don’t understand.

The Benefits of Dropping Your Mask

The women who shed their mask(s) will always be bloomers because they don’t play games with themselves or others.

They are genuine because they know themselves. In turn, they are able to combine what they say in harmony with their true feelings and have aligned their stars thereby becoming comfortable in their skin with their thoughts and actions. They are real.

Darlings, the ability to be you takes years. You have spent over 50 thus far! It is time to take action.

A Life-Changing Year

2018 has been a life-changing year for yours truly. I believe my change occurred because of the authenticity and legitimacy of my writings.

Honestly, I never realized the depth of my thoughts, the largeness of my life experiences; how nature and religion and my spiritual capacity have broadened my consciousness to my past, present and future.

Pretending to be who I am not is no longer an option in my life. I know who I am, what I need and what I love. Therefore, I understand my vulnerabilities and I know I want to flower and bloom all the days of my life. I wish this for all of you. It is the most refreshing feeling; stress-free and powerful in scope.

What to Do to Find Your ‘You’

My above feelings happened over time. As I got to know myself better through my writings, I began to experience the big picture.

I marveled at my life in its totality, with its pitfalls and accomplishments. How I solved my problems. How I learned from my accomplishments. The revelations were incredibly powerful as the pieces of my life fell into place.

I have also experienced a feeling of rebirth, a new found power that I could be exactly as I choose that is not only ok, it is great.

Keep a Journal

I suggest keeping a journal. It is the best ‘shrink’ in the world. You will come to understand your uniqueness and the scope of the things you have learned and accomplished in your life. You will be able to combine the pieces of your life into your life story and I believe you will say, “Wow!”

Darlings, it is the most uplifting feeling to reach this stage in life and feel confident enough in yourself to say to those in your life circle, “accept me and understand me and value me with my vulnerabilities or leave me be. I am going to be who I am.”

Can we agreeably disagree on subjects? Of course…

Find Like-Minded Friends

Having like-minded women friends is a good start. Do these women mirror your values?

If you are with female friends who make you feel anxious in any way, examine the friendship, and if you care deeply about the friendship, it is worthwhile to arrange an eye-to-eye meeting and talk to her openly. If the result of the meeting over time is unsatisfactory, let it go.

I know women who have fooled me with personality traits that I don’t like. There is no chance of sitting down and having a talk, so I say nothing and put a halt to the relationship by disengaging myself over time.

Use Your Mask for Good Only

There are times we all might don a mask for a positive outcome. You are being a good person and helping and remaining true to yourself.

I have given you a lot to think about. Right?  

Please share your thoughts with me via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or in the comments section below.

Susan “Honey” Good is the founder of HoneyGood.com where this blog originally appeared. The site is a collection of lessons learned, life advice and insights from not only her, but from a fantastic group of contributing writers, each adding their own spice to the recipe. Honey Good.com representing “a family tree of women” — wives, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, sisters, aunts, cousins and girlfriends — coming together to talk about what makes them tick as well as what they have in common. Honey Good discusses life experiences with wisdom, humor and intellect, enabling all to attain a “Honey Good Style of Life.”