Authenticity: How to “Be Yourself”

09.25.2023 - By Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson Play

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We’re often told to “be true to ourselves:” to line-up the person we are on the outside with the person we are on the inside. In a word, to be authentic. But what does it really mean to “be who we are,” “get in touch with ourselves,” or to go full new-age “live in alignment with our higher purpose?”

In this episode Dr. Rick and Forrest explore what authenticity is, where it comes from, and whether it’s actually a good thing to be more authentic. They talk about what we really mean when we use the word “authenticity,” the fragmented nature of the self, and problems with unregulated self expression. They then turn towards how we can include all of ourselves, act from our values, and become at peace with who we are.

You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:

0:00: Introduction

2:35: How Rick thinks about authenticity

6:10: Congruence, presentation, and the difference between honest and good

13:45: A personal example of authenticity from Rick and Forrest

17:00: Self-disclosure as a factor of intimacy

19:45: What parts of ourselves are we being authentic to?

23:15: Vulnerability and aspiration

28:10: Carl Rogers’ idea of the perceived self and the ideal self

33:20: Is self-improvement authentic?

36:30: Unconditional positive regard, and embodiment

40:10: Naming what you’re feeling, the vastness of the psyche, and self-honesty

46:25: Having a secure environment for aspirational change

48:45: Individualism, social roles, and intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation

53:05: Archetypes, the shadow, and integration

59:20: Recap

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