Being yourself.

​Everyone's always talking about "being authentic," but what does that mean?

Authenticity is the ability to be true to yourself and your values. Authentic people are genuine—they're real, and they don't hide behind facades or masks. They don't pretend to be something they're not. They don't try to fit in with a crowd or follow trends just because they think they'll make them look cool. They don't worry about what other people think of them—they do what makes them happy, without worrying about whether anyone else approves.

You can be authentic by following your truth: doing what feels right for you and saying what you think/feel, even if it might upset someone or make you look bad. Being true to yourself means putting yourself first, even if that means making sacrifices for others or doing things that aren't necessarily easy or fun for you but will help your family or friends in some way. Being authentic means being honest with others and letting go of things holding you back from being who you are inside (like resentments from past relationships).

Being authentic isn't always easy—and sometimes it's scary! But when we're living authentically, we also live our best lives.