Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Module_Comments::$et_pb_unique_comments_module_class is deprecated in /home/csmediatexas/murphymonitor/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/class-et-builder-element.php on line 1425
Collin Fall 2025

Keys to maintaining your personal authenticity

by | May 28, 2015 | Opinion

By Jim Starr

As the rather recent saying goes: “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.”

Authenticity is the practice of being truly yourself. Isn’t it odd that this should be so hard to do? After all, you are yourself, no? Yet the word “authenticity” seems to point to a certain way of being yourself, a way of expressing in your words and actions what you honestly think and feel – a way of having your outside match your inside. What’s so hard about that? One word: fear. We fabricate an artificial outside because we’re ashamed of our (unworthy) inside, and are afraid of it being seen. These 5 Keys will not dissolve your fear, but will aid you in being more authentic in the face of it.

  1. Pause and breathe
 Let’s say you’re about to answer a question. Without making a show of it, pause and take a subtle extra breath before responding. Your brain will use the extra milliseconds to get in touch with what’s actually true for you rather than blurting out some kind of “looking good” answer.
  2. Speak louder
 Being inauthentic is a form of lying. And it’s much harder to lie loudly than softly. We’re not talking about some noticeably out-of-character increase in volume – just a tad. Maybe one point on a scale of one to ten. You may be pleasantly shocked by the results of this powerful technique.
  3. Be willing to tolerate silence
 Ever experience an “awkward silence?” We all have. Underneath the awkwardness is fear. Face the fear head on, internally vowing not to be the first one to break the silence. Also, in any situation where a response is expected of you, be willing to remain silent until you have found the correct response, the authentic one.
  4. Be committed to taking action
 Don’t wait for fear to subside before taking any important action. Acknowledge that you’re afraid and forge ahead anyway, like a warrior. If, for example, it’s a scary phone call you need to make, notice that your fingers are capable of dialing the number no matter how fearful you may be.
  5. Watch yourself
 Without making yourself wrong, notice your inauthenticities as they come up. You will almost certainly discover patterns and habits of which you were previously unaware. These discoveries will coalesce into insights and, in time, breakthroughs. Your intention to be authentic is one of the most powerful forces in your body.

Jim Starr is an author, philosopher, certified Rolfer and avid student of the human condition.

NTMWD 2025

0 Comments

Public Notice - Subscribe

Related News

A bit wordy

A bit wordy

Columnist John Moore doesn’t recall ever seeing gloves in a glove box. Courtesy John Moore English is a language full of leftovers. It’s like the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Filled with things we just can’t seem to toss out. The difference of course is that at...

read more
True Grits

True Grits

Columnist John Moore loves grits. Real grits, that is. Photo John Moore Folks who aren’t from the South invariably aren’t familiar with grits. When they come for a visit, they often twist their eyebrows into a John Belushi-type look after they spot them on their...

read more
Double time

Double time

Columnist John Moore is on a mission to save old timepieces. He needs your help. Photo: John Moore My friend runs a precious metals shop, selling mostly gold and silver. I was there to discuss those very things when a pocket watch caught my eye. An Elgin. My buddy...

read more
A lot on the line

A lot on the line

Columnist John Moore keeps an old rotary phone around. Just in case. Photo by John Moore There are many once-common aspects of the telephone that are now gone. Keep in mind that those born in the 1990s likely have never heard a dial tone, dialed a phone, or talked to...

read more
Clutching the past

Clutching the past

Columnist John Moore learned to drive on a stick shift. He still uses a clutch to operate his tractor. Courtesy John Moore One of the necessities of my youth is now one of your best bets to prevent vehicle theft: a stick shift. I watch a lot of YouTube, and...

read more
Polished

Polished

Columnist John Moore still shines his own shoes. As long as he can find the polish to buy. Courtesy John Moore In some cultures, people wash the feet of guests who arrive at their home. At my parents’ house, I didn’t wash the feet of guests, but I did offer to shine...

read more
The chain gang

The chain gang

Columnist John Moore misses the old chain stores, one of which, Gibson’s, still exists in Kerrville, Texas. Courtesy John Moore Online shopping has turned us into couch potatoes who buy more than we ever used to. Adding items to an imaginary cart and clicking, “Buy...

read more
A free gift inside

A free gift inside

Columnist John Moore eats a lot of jelly, but not for the reason you might think. Courtesy John Moore My sister and I would make a beeline for the cereal aisle at the Piggly Wiggly while my mom did the shopping.  Decisions, decisions. Did we want to roll the dice...

read more
Jumping to conclusions

Jumping to conclusions

Columnist John Moore finds himself a little lost with new technology. Sometimes lost a lot. Courtesy John Moore Folks aren’t counting on each other like we were 50 years ago. And technology is the wedge that’s come between us. Our parents didn’t worry about us much...

read more
Public Notice - Subscribe