Those who live truly authentic lifestyles are few and far between. With the influence of society and pressure from those around us, life can be a constant battle between living how we want to live and living how others feel we should live.
Highly authentic people throw society’s expectations out the window. They are genuinely happy with dancing to the beat of their own drum and following their own unique journey through life.
So how do people live such an authentic lifestyle without others dragging them down?
Here are seven habits that those living an authentic life do to reach their dreams and blaze their own path in a demanding world.
1. They are their own best friend
Authentic people understand the fact that you can’t truly accept others unless you accept yourself. By finding peace within their own minds and enjoying time in solitude, this type of person makes it a habit to schedule activities in their lives that fulfill their own happiness.
2. They speak their mind
There’s a fine line between standing up for yourself and pushing others away, and highly authentic people have mastered this skill. They are strong and confident in their views and don’t accept lies or manipulations from others. Authentic people value the truth, within themselves and within everyone they surround themselves with.
3. They are trail blazers
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Highly authentic people take this advice to heart. Instead of following the path of least resistance, they let their passion guide them into new and uncharted territory.
4. They see opportunity in failure
Authentic people understand that making mistakes is part of living, and they make it a habit to own up to their flaws and failures.
Instead of dwelling in their setbacks, those living an authentic life push forward and seek out the opportunity within the challenge.
5. They practice mindfulness
Research has shown that those who live a mindful life are happier, more successful, and have a higher level of contentment than those who get caught up the stress of daily living.
Instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, authentic people strive to exist in the beauty of the present moment.
6. They see the bigger picture
“This too shall pass”, is a motto of those living a highly authentic life. While day to day challenges can bring anyone down, authentic people make it a habit to look at life from a broader perspective. There is always a silver lining, and a bad day does not make a bad life!
7. They don’t let others define them
Highly authentic people know that the only one in charge of their life story is themselves. Instead of caving to the pressure of society or other’s expectations, they embrace the uniqueness of their individual spirit. By letting their natural self-confidence shine through, those who live authentically find that true happiness comes from being true to oneself.
In a world that seems to pressure us from every direction, living an authentic life can be more than a challenge. These habits of highly authentic people help them to cast away self doubt and other’s expectations. The only one who can define you is yourself, and your book is filled with blank pages left to be written – so make your story an authentic one!
