1-855-452-0707A healthy relationship allows you to be the best version of yourself and youâre at your best when youâre acting genuinely. While it may seem like an elusive ideal, being true to yourself is actually the best way to approach a coupleship and itâs easier than you may think. Itâs helpful to keep your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors congruous, and you can learn how to do this by working with a relationship coach.
If youâre wondering what it means to be a genuine person and how to be authentic in a relationship, read on to learn how you can nurture this within yourself and live a truly authentic life.
What Does Self Authenticity Mean?
Being true to yourself means that your actions, thoughts, and feelings align, and you express them with integrity and confidence.
However, many people struggle to strike this balance and have truly genuine existence. When the different aspects of your personality (parts of self) are out of sync, you may feel like youâre not being yourself in some areas of your life. For example, you could be putting on a false persona to impress others, like pretending to be more confident to win over a potential partner.
Hereâs are some ways in which authenticity can manifest itself:
- Honesty: If youâre genuine, youâre honest both to other people and yourself, and you donât feel the need to modify your behavior to conform to other peopleâs expectations.Â
- Self-sufficiency: An authentic person makes decisions and acts on them independently, unbothered by outside influences. They rely on their own inner strength in challenging situations.
- Self-love: You accept that youâre not perfect and love yourself regardless of any shortcomings you may have. You donât feel the need to keep up appearances because you know that youâre enough, just the way you are.
- Ease: Authentic people are comfortable in their own skin. Because they arenât bothered by what the world expects of them, they are unburdened and free to live a fulfilling life.
- Fulfilling your potential: You know your strengths and develop in areas that need work. This makes you more likely to tap into your full potential and grow as a person.
However, being authentic isnât about being rigid and impervious to change. It also doesnât mean that you believe that youâre perfect and beyond reproach. People naturally grow and transform to respond to the changing circumstances in their lives, so the way you express your authentic self will reflect this too.
For example, you may have started off as a shy child and teenager and developed more outgoing traits as you entered adulthood. Expressing this freely doesnât mean that youâve stopped being true to yourself. Instead, your personality has been through a shift and you naturally behave in line with this.
What Makes A Relationship Authentic?
There may be different levels of authenticity in a relationship:
- You can be your genuine selves. You accept each other the way you are, without the need to change the other person to fit your expectations. You give each other support and room to grow without impediments.
- Youâre honest with one another. Youâre able to express your thoughts and feelings freely, without fear of judgment or rejection. You feel safe opening up to your partner and trust them to understand even the things that make you most vulnerable.
- You donât let outside pressures influence your relationship. Youâre sure of your relationship regardless of what others think or do.Â
Why Is It Important To Be Authentic In A Relationship?
Inauthenticity can take a toll on a relationship. For example, you may be consciously hiding your true colors from your partner. You could be unwilling to express your deepest fears and insecurities because you think that this will drive them away. You may worry that showing who you really are will scare them off. This is common for people who have an anxious attachment style and fear rejection from their partner.
In a different scenario, you may be attempting to change to match your partnerâs standards. For example, if you know your partner prefers being the leader, you may be taking the back seat to pander to them. This way, you could be stifling your natural affinities and losing confidence. This may cause you to feel resentful and jeopardize the relationship.
On the other hand, a relationship thatâs genuine doesnât require either partner to hide or pretend. Instead, it allows you to be unapologetically yourselves, with your feelings, thoughts, and actions working in unison.
How Can I Become More Authentic In My Relationship?
Establishing a genuine connection is what most people aspire to. Here are some things you can do to have more authenticity in your relationship:
- Have a sense of independence: Itâs not a good idea to rely solely on your partner for happiness. If you put all your eggs in one basket, you may lose your individuality and become too caught up in making your relationship work at all costs.
- Talk to each other: Share your feelings and thoughts with your partner and encourage them to do the same. Show understanding and compassion when theyâre feeling vulnerable and expect the same in return.
- Expect reciprocity: There needs to be mutual respect and understanding between the two of you. A healthy relationship provides a safe space where you can both feel seen and heard.
How Can You Improve Intimacy in Your Marriage With an Intensive Workshop?
If you feel like you or your partner are being inauthentic and you worry that this may destroy your marriage, PIVOT can help you become a more authentic person and have a genuine relationship. You can become more self-actualized and reach your full potential in one of our individual workshops. These workshops can provide support while youâre trying to cope with divorce trauma and in other emotionally hurtful situations.
We also help couples find a common ground by participating in our retreats together. Reach out to us to uncover your unhealthy patterns and fulfill your potential. Weâre ready to support you through your journey!