The Balanced Life, Huntsville Alabama

There have been many times in counseling sessions I have used the quote, “In a world where you can be anyone, just be yourself.” Seems cliché, but there are a lot of ways we can apply this simple statement in our daily lives.

Society puts pressure on us to behave in a certain manner and blend in with everyone else, but how many times have you found the most genuine, authentic people the most appealing? Let’s be honest—no one wants to be close to someone who is fake. It’s exhausting and can become toxic over time.

Most people that come into my office say things like, “I want to find my purpose,” or “I want to be able to better interact with my spouse,” or “I want to be a more effective parent.” I have found most goals of counseling relate in some way to the concept of finding one’s own authenticity and applying that in relationships with others. So, how do you find balance between your own sense of genuineness and displaying that in your personal relationships? Here are five habits of genuine people and ways to apply them:

Genuine people invest in their own self-esteem. This statement places importance on a balance of one’s own self-worth and one that is not too high or too low. People who strive to be authentic are mostly confident and are more likely to accept both negative and positive feedback from others. They focus on positive self-talk to build themselves up, but are also willing to improve in certain aspects of their life.

Genuine people do not compare themselves to others. Along with having strong self-esteem, those who have genuineness are not judgmental of others or overly critical of how they compare. They seek to embrace their own individuality and focus on their internal qualities instead of how that measures up to others.

Genuine people speak their mind in an effective way. Most people that have a good authentic quality are self aware of how they think and feel about a situation and are able to be honest about their opinions. They do not often speak before they think about things, but make sure they are giving an honest, heartfelt response that reflects how they truly feel.

Genuine people are sincere and kind. You rarely meet someone who is genuine AND rude. It is important when embracing genuineness to be sensitive to others’ feelings through empathy, which shows kindness and compassion. Often times, this means putting yourself in another’s position and attempting to see from their perspective, without giving in to your own wants/needs.

Genuine people are self-aware. Self-awareness is a key tool in one’s identity and being able to know how to navigate your own life is especially important. Those that are genuine are honest with themselves, which in turn, should allow honesty with others. Objectivity is a key indicator of someone who is self-aware and is conducive of building solid, genuine relationships.

If you are seeking to tap into a more genuine mindset, contact Lindsey Hill at lindsey@thebalancedlifellc.com or at (256) 258-7777 ext. 104.