To be authentic is to think, feel, and act as the person you were meant to be. A great deal of human suffering comes from the polarization we experience between our true Self and the persona we constructed to hide insecurity and shame, please others to avoid rejection, and the like. When you are being authentic you are most able to tap into and use your personal power. When you are being authentic you know what to do when opportunities and challenges arise rather than falling into confusion, ambivalence, and indecision. A story illustrating authenticity from a Jewish rabbi that has been passed down to me goes like this. Schmeichel dies and arrives at the pearly gates (I know most Jews don’t believe in heaven or hell but please bear with me on this). An angel behind a lecturn greets him. Schmeichel asks, “so how did I do?” The angel replies, “not so good. We are not happy with you.” Schmeichel replies, “why? I don’t get it. All my life I tried my best to be like our great sage and leader Moses. I spoke like him. I acted like him. I tried at all times to be pure and holy.” The angel looks at Schmeichel and says, “that’s the problem. You should have been more like Schmeichel and less like Moses.”
