What does it mean to "live authentically"?

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   Emanate Presenceposted 11 years ago

   What does it mean to "live authentically"?

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   girlonfireposted 11 years ago

   To live the way you actually want to and not because of the expectations of others or not because you want to impress others.

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, it is not to impress others or to meet their expectations. Are there 'want tos' at different levels, with some being more real and therefore more authentic?

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      SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, and also not out of fear of others, or from a desire to change others. Let us admire those who live authentically amidst oppression.

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   SidKempposted 11 years ago

   I see three aspects to this. First, spiritually, authentic living, or truthfulness, includes harmlessness. No one truly wants to harm themselves or others. Discovering this, and living according to the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would want done unto you) is authentic.
   
   The second level is, for me, that each person has a unique soul with a unique purpose. It always involves creativity, and service, and some community (people, animals, plants, ecosystem) in which we live and serve. But the unique mix is different: One person might be fulfilled by being a nurse, while another is called to be an artist.
   
   These two do not go together easily. How does a soul with a warrior spirit live in peace? Yet authentic living - or, as Gandhi called it Satyagraha, grasping the Truth in life - can make peaceful warriors of us all. The courage of a warrior, in a life of joy, creativity, service, and peace.
   
   But authentic living must come down to Earth. For me, this means that the soul expresses itself peacefully in our hearts, our energy our thoughts, our feelings, and our body. And we work to make a balanced life happen with this infusion of Soul bringing our gifts to this world that is so much in need of creativity, joy, and healing.

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sid, you put real thought - or more, real feeling - into your response. I can see you are someone who has mused about this subject before, and you expressed your conclusions well. That is not just being polite, it is authentic! Will visit your hubs.

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      SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am glad, Emanate Presence! Today is my birthday, and meeting you feels like a gift from Spirit.

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      May your birthday celebration be all you could imagine and more!

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   Marseiposted 11 years ago

   To me, it means to be who you are and express who that person is by the way you live your life.   I find it easy to distinguish between people who are authentic and those who are not.  Authentic people have nothing to prove.

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well said! Though you don't need my approval :-)

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