Being authentic or authenticity can be frequently used and sometimes even overused buzzwords in our world currently.

But I read something this week that made me totally rethink what authenticity actually means,

which isn't just about trying to share unfiltered pictures or a messy imperfect moments of our lives.

This definition goes deeper into self-acceptance and the way we act, maybe even more importantly,

in our private lives, and even the thought processes in our own minds, and what it really takes

to be able to sleep well at the end of the day knowing you stayed true to the person

you are completely and authentically.

All right. I feel like authenticity can sometimes be overused, used to death a little bit lately

and in our current social climate. But there's a new take on authenticity that I read recently

that I thought was so good that I thought we could do basically a whole podcast episode about it. So it's from

Brené Brown, her gifts of imperfection, and this is what she says. Authenticity is the daily

practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are. Choosing

authenticity means cultivating the courage to be imperfect,

to set boundaries, and to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, exercising the compassion that comes

from knowing that we are all made of strength and struggle and nurturing the connection

and sense of belonging that can only happen when we believe that we are enough. Authenticity demands wholehearted living

and loving, even when it's hard, even when we're wrestling with the shame and fear of not being good

enough, and especially when the joy is so intense that we're afraid to let ourselves feel it.

Mindfully practicing authenticity during our most soul-searching struggles is how we invite grace,

joy, and gratitude into our lives. There's so much goodness there that I kind of want to

unpack it one piece at a time. So the very first thing she says, where she says,

authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be

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