• A woman removing a perfect mask from her face to Become Authentic

    Become Authentic

    “Be yourself — not your idea of what you think somebody else’s idea of yourself should be.” — Henry David Thoreau

     

    Yet Social Media has become a fake world carnival; you are expected to wear a mask, to hide your true-self.

     

    Who are you? What do you want? Seriously pursuing these questions gives you 'quethenticity', not a typo, but rather a quality of using questions to take you on a journey of discovery.

  • Authenticity is not something we have or don't have. It's a practice — a conscious choice of how we want to live. Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen. - Brene Brown
  • About Authenticity

    From HOW TO BE AUTHENTIC IN A FAKE WORLD by Gustavo Razzetti
    (https://medium.com/personal-growth/being-authentic-in-a-fake-world-8458f240a227)
     
    “You will be what you must be, or else you will be nothing.” — José de San Martín
     

    Masks are dangerous; they don’t merely hide but transform who we are. We become who we impersonate.

    The reason why the Venetian Carnival encouraged the use of masks is not what you think. The official celebration began in 1296 as a way to give people, especially the lower classes, a time for fun. Masks guaranteed total anonymity: leveling the social divisions.

    The Carnival allowed people to behave freely — to be themselves. Inspired by ancient Greek and Roman festivals, the purpose of masks was to make everyone feel equal. Citizens could safely mock authority and aristocracy in public. But, the intent to vent tensions and discontentment, caused a surprising effect. Masks gave permission for people to free their darkest side.

    Soon, hiding one’s identity became the perfect disguise for theft and physical attacks. After sunset, the Venetian Carnival turned into something more sinister: attackers could freely commit robberies or indecent acts.

     

    Masks are tricky: they hide your identity but not your true-self.

    André Berthiaume said: “We all wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.”

    In a world that rewards flawless masks, it’s hard to separate our identity from what we pretend. The masks we wear might seem authentic, but they are just a disguise.

     

    The Paradox of ‘Be Yourself’

    “Be yourself — not your idea of what you think somebody else’s idea of yourself should be.” — Henry David Thoreau

     

    Our society tells you: “Be yourself.”

    But what does that mean?

    We want to be authentic, even if we don’t know what it is. That’s the paradox of the modern version of ‘be yourself.’ Rather than searching within, people are trying to match what ‘authentic’ means to others.

     

    We’ve turned inner exploration into a guessing game.

    Being yourself is not about standing out. Or being different to others. Being authentic is following your path, not comparing to others. When you try to be ‘different,’ you disconnect from what you want.

    When being yourself becomes the new fad, self development is no longer a meaningful journey. The mandate to become different turns you into anything but authentic.

     

    Authenticity is about staying true to what you believe, not about your image— to be brave to express your genuine feelings and opinions.

    Don’t confuse being genuine with permission to do whatever you want though. That’s what happened at the Venetian Carnival in the thirteen century. Instead of freeing authentic selves, masks liberate people’s darkest sides.

    As Ruth Whippman says in this beautiful essay: “Authenticity is, at heart, the idea that we should make the way we behave on the outside match what we feel on the inside. But really, a functioning society depends on keeping a healthy distance between the two.”

    Who Are You, Really?

    “But pride is such a foolish mask.” — Paul Anka
     

    Authenticity, in a psychological sense of the word, is connected with your identity.

    The Existentialism philosophy movement considered authenticity as the degree to which one is true to one’s personality or character, despite external pressures. Existentialists, such as Jean-Paul Sartre, valued individualism — that we are independently acting and responsible, conscious beings.

    On the contrary, Existentialists considered lack of authenticity as ‘bad faith.’ Basically that human beings, under pressure from society, adopt values and disown their innate freedom.

    Oscar Wilde said: “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”

     

    When you are not authentic, the only person you fool is yourself.

    Acting inauthentically drives self-deception and resentment.

    Authenticity Doesn’t Mean Exclusivity

    “I can be a better me than anyone can.” — Diana Ross

    The moment something is labeled as ‘authentic’ its genuineness is at risk.

     

    Our obsession with authenticity is dangerous. The patrons of London’s ‘Harris + Hoole’ felt betrayed when they learned that a supermarket chain owned half of the stake of this ‘authentic’ local coffee shop. The customers believed their experience was authentic until they found out about the not-so-exclusive owner.

    Authenticity is about accepting things as they are, not as they should be. When we expect experiences to be fashionable or exclusive, we stop seeing things as they are. We confuse the mask with the true identity.

     

    Fame is the opposite of being authentic. Being famous requires to being accepted by the masses. You stop being you to become everyone else’s fantasy.

    The book ‘The Society of Spectacle’ predicted our distracted society. Guy Debord, the author, wrote: “As specialists of apparent life, stars serve as superficial objects that people can identify with in order to compensate for the fragmented productive specializations that they actually live.”

    Stop caring about other people’s expectations will set you free. You’ll no longer feel afraid of who you want to be, that’s the first step towards becoming more authentic.

     

    The Portrait of A Fake Society

    “To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, making you everybody else–means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” — E.E. Cummings
     

    Photos are mirrors with a memory. That’s what Oliver Wendell Holmes said back in 1859. He predicted that the “image would become more important than the object itself and would, in fact, make the object disposable.

    We have become the prey of our image perfect society. Instagramming a meal has become more important than enjoying the food. A ‘selfie’ has become who you are; your latest Facebook post defines your identity.

     

    Your fear of becoming ‘disposable’ turns your self-preservation mode on; rather than being authentic you care about staying relevant.

    Susan Sontag argued that photographs undermine our understanding (of art). “Knowing a great deal about what is in the world through photographic images,” Sontag notes, “people are frequently disappointed, surprised, unmoved when they see the real thing.”

    According to the writer and activist, photography has forced us to consider that exposure to images does not necessarily create an understanding of the things themselves. Pictures do not necessarily lead to meaning; the information they convey does not always lead to knowledge.

    Guy Debord said: “Behind the masks of total choice, different forms of the same alienation confront each other.”

     

    Social Media has become a fake world carnival; you are expected to wear a mask, to hide your true-self.

     

    As John Harris wrote here: “If we’re not careful, most of what we do — embodies a mixture of distraction and reinforcement that serves to reproduce the mode of society that has taken the idea of the spectacle to an almost surreal extreme.”

    -------------------------------------------------------

    By Gustavo Razzetti, a change instigator who helps organizations lead positive change.

  • We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be. - Kurt Vonnegut
  • 5 Ways To Approach Authenticity

    From HOW TO BE AUTHENTIC IN A FAKE WORLD by Gustavo Razzetti
    (https://medium.com/personal-growth/being-authentic-in-a-fake-world-8458f240a227)
    “Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world; our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” — Brené Brown
     

    1. Increase self-awareness

    Authenticity is not something you have, but a goal. It’s something you pursue — part of the ‘painful’ learning experience of being human.

    It’s intrinsically tricky, due to constant social pressures to live inauthentically. It requires courage and clarity. Write your personal definition of authenticity. Reflect on who you are and who you want to become. And, most importantly, what you don’t want to be.

    Clarity drives action.

     

    2. Recognize the masks you wear

    You are human; you are not the only one wearing masks. Being authentic is anything but easy.

    Wearing a mask is not always negative. Sometimes is how you adapt to uninviting places. Take the workplace, for example. Most companies don’t want employees to bring their souls to work.

    However, most masks can be avoided, like faking who you are in social media. When you are under pressure, how do you react? Reflect each day on the masks you wear and why. But, most importantly, don’t confuse the mask with who you are. Don’t let the characters you play take over your identity.

     

    3. Embrace vulnerability

    We wear masks to hide who we are. Are you afraid of what others will think of you? Or are you your hardest judge?

    Being authentic is accepting that you are not flawless. You have doubts; you make mistakes and are afraid of showing your true emotions. You are only human, just like me (and the rest of the world). Authenticity is not about being perfect but being true to yourself.

    Don’t take yourself too seriously. Think of your life as a prototype. You are always adjusting and making changes, it’s anything but finished. Have fun. When you can laugh about your flaws, you will stop worrying when someone else makes fun out of you.

     

    4. Don’t filter, just be

    Being present is hard. We live in an era of distractions. Checking the screen of your phone when your friend is sharing something personal is not only rude, — you are detaching yourself. Not being present is as unauthentic as hiding your own feelings.

    What are you afraid of? What’s the worst thing that can happen?

    Learn to follow your instincts. Embrace improvisation. Explore an unfiltered version of yourself— not just of your pictures. Overcome self-doubt to unleash your true-self.

     

    5. Accept Feedback as a Gift

    The masks that other people wear in front of you say a lot about your authenticity. When you are genuine, you encourage others to be so too. If you hide your feelings or pretend to be someone you are not, don’t expect others to be honest with you.

    Embrace feedback as an unexpected gift, as I wrote here.

    People are mirrors that reflect your blind spots. Listening to what others tell you or how they behave in your presence, will help you reflect on your authentic self. Trying to please others is anything but genuine.

    Others can make you aware of the masks you wear. What you do about it is on you.

    Give Yourself Permission to Change

     
    “Free yourself from the inauthenticity and disempowerment of your story.” — Steve Maraboli

     

    Being authentic doesn’t mean being static. Your interests change through time, so should your identity. Changing your mind is okay. Don’t get stuck in your own story.

    Is not what you are but who you become that matters. You are your choices, as I wrote here. Your identity is not fixed, and it’s not just what inherited. Your personal decisions shape who you are.

     

    When you stick to who you are, your identity becomes a fortress rather than something that sets you free. Nothing last forever, embrace a ‘Maybe mindset.

     

    Experiment. Free yourself from the paradox of ‘Be Yourself.’

    Accept the challenge of being authentic in a fake world.

    By Gustavo Razzetti, a change instigator that helps organizations lead positive change.

  • What Is Under Your Masks?

    A woman holding a smiling mask of herself in front of her face, behind which she apparently feels very different.

    What is under your masks?

    This can be a scary question to ask, and even scarier to find out.

    If it is not okay for you to feel fear and use fear as a resource of intelligence and energy then the mask stays on.

    Step 1 in removing your mask? Learn to feel: 4 feelings.mystrikingly.com

    Learning to feel is a journey.

    Read about it in Directing the Power of Conscious Feelings by Clinton Callahan.

    Experiment with learning to feel in an Expand The Box training.

    Learn to inner navigate your feelings and emotions for healing and transformation processes in Possibility Labs.

  • If you want to live an authentic, meaningful life, you need to master the art of disappointing and upsetting others, hurting feelings, and living with the reality that some people just won't like you. It may not be easy, but it's essential if you want your life to reflect your deepest desires, values, and needs. - Cheryl Richardson
  • Quethenticity

    What is quethenticity? 
     
    What is quethenticity good for?
     
    How can you explore quethenticity alone?
     
    How can you explore quethenticity with others?

     

  • If you want to live an authentic, meaningful life, you need to master the art of disappointing and upsetting others, hurting feelings, and living with the reality that some people just won't like you. It may not be easy, but it's essential if you want your life to reflect your deepest desires, values, and needs. - Cheryl Richardson
  • Experiments In Authenticity

    broken image

    ASSUME YOU ARE INAUTHENTIC 

    Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.01

    Authenticity happens in a small 'Now'.

     

    Enter Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.01 in your free account at StartOver.xyz.

    This Experiment is worth 1 Matrix Point.

    Conscious Anger Logo 300x300 Possibility Management StartOver.xyz

    EXPERIENCE YOUR ANGER WHEN BEING INAUTHENTIC

    Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.02

     

     

    Enter Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.02 in your free account at StartOver.xyz.

    This Experiment is worth 1 Matrix Point.

    Conscious Fear Logo 300x300 Possibility Management Start Over Game

    EXPERIENCE YOUR FEAR WHEN BEING INAUTHENTIC

    Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.03

     

     

    Enter Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.03 in your free account at StartOver.xyz.

    This Experiment is worth 1 Matrix Point.

    Conscious Sadness Logo 300x300 Possibility Management

    EXPERIENCE YOUR SADNESS WHEN BEING INAUTHENTIC

    Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.04

     

     

    Enter Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.04 in your free account at StartOver.xyz.

    This Experiment is worth 1 Matrix Point.

    Conscious Joy Logo 300x300 Possibility Management

    EXPERIENCE YOUR JOY WHEN BEING INAUTHENTIC

    Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.05

     

     

    Enter Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.05 in your free account at StartOver.xyz.

    This Experiment is worth 1 Matrix Point.

    broken image

    BEING AUTHENTIC IS A DISRUPTIVE FORCE

    Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.06

    Being afraid of being authentic that it might take the space into break down. You might break the inauthentic flow of conversation and face people into their own inauthenticity.

     

    Enter Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.06 in your free account at StartOver.xyz.

    This Experiment is worth 1 Matrix Point.

    broken image

    THERE IS NO AUTHENTIC ONE

    Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.07

    We have parts. We are a combination of parts.
    Which parts has a part to play right now?

    Authenticity "happens" in the small now. I can Be authentic but there is not an Authentic Mark...

     

    Enter Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.07 in your free account at StartOver.xyz.

    This Experiment is worth 1 Matrix Point.

    broken image

    SAYING WHAT YOU WANT

    Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.08


     

    Enter Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.08 in your free account at StartOver.xyz.

    This Experiment is worth 1 Matrix Point.

    broken image

    SAYING WHAT YOU DON'T WANT

    Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.09

    You live a double life. If you don't say what you don't want. Why would you go around accepting what you actually don't want to accept?

    Inauthenticity is accepting what is unacceptable.

     

    Enter Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.09 in your free account at StartOver.xyz.

    This Experiment is worth 1 Matrix Point.

    Rage Club Logo 300x300 Possibility Management StartOver.xyz

    IF IT WAS OKAY FOR ME TO BE TOTALLY FREELY ANGRY...

    Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.10

    For this experiment, be authentic about your inauthenticity.

    Place the camera in front of you and start a video recording.

    Consciously bring your rage up to 25% intensity, and let your anger speak.

    "If it was ok for me to be totally freely angry, what would I change? What decisions would I make?"
    Keep speaking until nothing else comes.

    Publish your video on Youtube.

    Find and join a Rage Club near you.

     

    Once you have published your video, enter Matrix Code BAUTHENTI.10 in your free account at StartOver.xyz.

    This Experiment is worth 1 Matrix Point.

  • When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - L'ao Tzu
    startover.xyz is powered by Possibility Management
  • NOTE: This website is a Bubble in the Bubble Map of the free-to-play, massively-multiplayer, online-and-offline, thoughtware-upgrade, matrix-building, personal-transformation, adventure-game called StartOver.xyz. It is a doorway to experiments that upgrade your thoughtware so you can relocate your point of origin and create more possibility. Your knowledge is what you think about. Your thoughtware is what you use to think with. When you change your thoughtware, you go through a liquid state as your mind reorganizes itself. Liquid states can bring up transformational feelings and emotions. By upgrading your thoughtware you build matrix to hold more consciousness and leave behind a low drama life of reactivity. No one can upgrade your thoughtware for you. More interestingly, no one can stop you from upgrading your thoughtware. Our theory is that when we collectively build 1,000,000 new Matrix Points we will change the morphogenetic field of the human race for the better. Please choose responsibly to read this website. Reading this whole website is worth 1 Matrix Point. Doing any of the experiments earns you additional Matrix Points. Please use Matrix Code BAUTHENT.00 to log your Matrix Point for reading this website on StartOver.xyz. Thank you for playing full out!