The Search for Authenticity
Clients often come to therapy with a nagging feeling that something is off without really knowing what. After some exploration, at the crux of this discontent so often lies inauthentic living.
Sometimes we know we are pretending, pleasing others, keeping up with the Jones’ – at times we are oblivious to the mask we are wearing. But either way the price of inauthenticity tends to start costing us more than it serves us – regularly expressing itself as low mood, depression or anxiety.
Another word to describe this inauthenticity is ‘incongruence’ – where we find ourselves acting in ways that are not in line with our personal values. This can undermine our sense of self as we get caught up in a vicious cycle whereby we slowly lose confidence and self respect and then find it even harder to make decisions we feel good about.
So! How can therapy help? Well, firstly it gives us a safe forum to consider what our personal values actually are! We may realise we have simply inherited our values from our parents, school, social media, friends without even realising it so taking time to consider what really matters to us can be the first step in reconnecting with our true selves.
What follows is to imagine how it would be to start living according to our own personal set of values and principles and be supported in the process of building the courage to do so. In my experience, clients who go on this journey soon understand why they have been feeling so crippled by self doubt and dread for the future – because to live according to someone else’s values might not really be living at all.
To enquire about therapy, use the ‘get in touch’ page or e-mail me at hello@eggtherapy.com
Leave a Reply