Living Authentically–Part One

In my last blog, Let Your Freak Flag Fly! – www.LindaDezenski.com, I mentioned that identity is fluid. I believe  everyone has the right to accept or reject any label that is assigned to them by others. Accept only what resonates with you, because living with authenticity is essential.

You may wonder why this idea is important to me. I spent a lot of time alone in my room when I was a kid. I read a lot, and I pondered a lot of questions about what my future would be. My mother and father believed in me. My mom was always telling me I should stop hiding and assert myself. The belief was that I had something to offer the world.

But then, there was this disconnect when I was out in the world. In my book Persistence, I write about living authentically. To me, authenticity means being yourself and being present every minute. I am not trying to write psychobabble. Being present is paying attention when you are out in the world. Live every minute, and be true to yourself. Portray yourself as you want others to see you. Being present also means not being caught up in what you are going to say. Look people in the eye and respond to what they are saying.

I know it is hard. It takes practice. I always know when people are caught up in how I look. They don’t meet my eye. I have to say something engaging or ask a question to start a genuine conversation. In the beginning, it is awkward. I learned not to say anything self-depreciating. I use humor sparingly. I sometimes find a small compliment that I can give them. Nothing too extravagant. That’s how I learned to be more present, more in the moment.