Thats not how the world works, though.

We tend to stifle our authentic selves to fit in without even realizing it.

And doing so suppresses our creativity, ingenuity, and self-awareness.

We all have variations of ourselves we present in different situations.

Those invented selves are normal, and its something we all do to some extent.

But thats not what authenticity is about.

Its not about expressing your opinions all the time without filtersits about confidently knowing what those opinions are.

It involves not just knowing oneself, but also recognizing others and the mutual influence between individuals.

Its a hard, never ending process because your identity is constantly evolving.

The Harvard Business Review suggests taking a closer look at your biography tohelp define whoyou are.

Take the time to criticize decisions youve made and analyze why you made them.

Thinkabout the feedback youve received from friends and co-workers.

Most importantly though, be tough on yourself anddig into your failures.

When youre going through that biography, think about how youve been selfish, horrible, or rude.

Think about why you were that way.

For Kierkegaard, authenticity comes from facing reality and forming your own opinion.

Learning to think criticallyis a defining factor in finding your authentic self.

This in turn boosts your self-awareness because looking at thebiases that define your worldview.

Critical thinking is a gruelling process.

Think about these longstanding habits and worldviews to see if theyve changed.

To fearlessly be yourself every day, you oughta be aware of where you want to end up.

Its often argued that who we want to be is the best indication of who we are.

Take the person fighting an addiction to heroin.

On the contrary, she is betraying herself and giving up what she values most.

In this case, its about your goals and your values.

Do you want to retire someday?

Live on an island by yourself?

When was the last time you actually thought long and hard about your goals?

Are these goals the same as they were five years ago?

Your values and goals change over the years, and your behavior should follow suit.

For this particular case,Im a fan of the personal manifesto.

Dont let anyone or anything else define those values, and dig deep.

Think about how you feel about ethics, personality, and everything else you find important.

Then, write out your beliefs, motivations, and intentions.

Being yourself doesnt mean you speak your mind without filters.

We all live in a society where honesty is valued, but were not consistently attacking each other.

Thats a good thing.

The same goes for any other relationships you have, whether theyre friendly or romantic.

Be honest, be truthful, and be yourself.

Share your thoughts and ideas, no matter how weird they might seem.

Photo bySeamartini Graphics,Geralt,Karola Riegler,Christian Guthier,JD Hancock.