Did you know that today is the “National Honesty Day” (https://shorturl.at/4uMNC)? Bambi has no clue who declared the latter. Once again, some declared days are valuable because they raise awareness about a health condition or a historic event. Others may seem funny or very odd. One thing is sure, honesty is a meaningful value, which relates to concepts such as authenticity, lucidity, and maybe even courage.
Yes, it takes courage to be truthful with oneself, to begin with, and with others, especially in tough circumstances or if we live according to the expectations of others. After all, there is a reason for Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882; https://shorturl.at/Mr1jA)’s beautiful saying: “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment”.
Indeed, being authentic or truthful is all about having the courage to be genuine or true to oneself. It is both a way of being and a way of acting in alignment with our values, thoughts, or words.
To be authentic or sincere, with both oneself and with others, one must know his or her own core values (respect, compassion, love, etc.) and maybe also priorities (e.g., personal development, family, service to community, vocation, living according to one’s faith, etc.).
The beauty of authenticity is that, by being honest or genuine, we deepen and strengthen our meaningful relationships with others. Indeed, authenticity fosters mutual understanding and contributes to building trust.
Of note, in times of conflicts or disagreements, authenticity can drive honest communication. The latter is necessary to address the root of disagreements or issues. As a result, authenticity has the potential to serve both inner peace and peace with others. Indeed, authenticity is a key ingredient of happiness and harmony with others.
Bearing all the above in mind, to what extent are you honest with yourself and about yourself in your meaningful relationships? And what about yourself in society in general or on social media (where Bambi does not exist :)?
Regardless of your answer and thankfully, there is room for learning when it comes to authenticity. Yes, even when truthfulness has been lacking, perhaps due to insecurities or other factors, it can be nurtured through the practice of self-awareness. In turn, seeing ourselves clearly would help us in having more agency and thus confidence. For instance, it can improve our decision-making, both personal and professionally (https://shorturl.at/dzIMg).
To conclude this post, who needs masks when we can enjoy being connected to our own uniqueness? Who needs lies when one’s self-image is positive and the connections with both oneself and others are healthy? Happy Honesty Day to you dear readers!
