ARE YOU FOR REAL

via #weheartit

Authenticity. The quality of being authentic. It is not a magic superpower or  some kind of a talent, but still, people question each others authenticity all the time. 

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.
― May Sarton

Authenticity comes naturally to the authentic ones. We are all born unique and, blah blah. The paradox is that even if we want to believe we are unique, we also want to blend in certain kind of groups and in our social context, we want to find people who share the same traits with us. We might be even intolerant of different kind of views and beliefs. But there is no other you, or other me. Authenticity is being natural in everything you do. The way you talk, dress, do your job, pick your hobbies, etc. But we cannot be immune to the impact other people have on us. Aware of it or not, we are selective in our tastes, the tastes and behaviour we have built through our life, weather it is mostly through our family or other people, through the media or something else. But in the sum of it all, our selection makes us authentic.

Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to.

― Jim Jarmusch

Authenticity is a big subject when it comes to art. Every art is inspirational and inspired by something. But there is difference between copying specific personal style and being inspired by certain people or ideas. Authenticity is threatened where there's lack of imagination, creativity, the lack of self. Authenticity cannot always stay protected through formality and so it is the question of our own conscience when it comes to respecting someone's spiritual legacy. When you steal someone's persona or work, not only you devalue everything you are, you are also a thief no worse than the one who steals the money from the blind person when no one's looking. You are ripping off someone's spirit in order for you to look better. You take the result of something as your own, the result of a personal work or experience you know nothing about.

Following all the rules leaves a completed check list. Following your heart achieves a completed you.

― Ray A. Davis

Another thing. Music industry is rapidly changing in every possible way. So many styles, so many artists, and still it feels sometimes it is impossible for another Freddie Mercury or Jim Morrison to pop out and shake the world. There probably are many charismatic and gifted souls we might not know about. And so many copy-paste musicians we are forced to know about. The industry is more mechanical than ever and it is almost impossible to differ if something came from the heart of the artist or from the managers mouth. This massive production everywhere makes us question authenticity of everything we see or hear when it comes to entertainment. Cause the massive entertainment has outgrown the ideas, individual tastes and art itself. The world of artists is becoming one perfectly synced machine, no time for imperfections, opinions, out scenario moves. And the price of authenticity comes with the bill and instructions like every other product.

I honestly believe that people of my generation despise authenticity, mostly because they're all so envious of it.

 Chuck Klosterman, Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story

Yes, in all my research, the greatest leaders looked inward and were able to tell a good story with authenticity and passion.
― Depak Chopras

Being part of all this, it isn't strange we question ourselves and each other on a daily basics. But the thing is, we should relax. Stop taking ourselves so seriously. Let's stop analysing. Stop searching for the box to fit in. Let's just be. Cause that is the most natural thing, it is how we were born and supposed to be from the the day one. Choose your idols, sure, pick your favourite colours, change when you feel the change, feel your own aspirations and don't buy everyone's story. Concentrate on the stuff you like, give people compliments. Respect people have their own tastes. Focus on the stories you like. Never be ashamed of what you like. Everyone can click on ''like'' what everyone likes. And be honest. Authenticity is being honest with yourself and everyone or everything you have a chance to interact with. Where there's no honesty, there is the lack of soul and true interaction. 

The authenticity is the volume of your soul, there's no point in singing and listening when it's on mute.

 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.

 Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think 

Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity – I mean the true simplicity of a rightly and nobly ordered mind and character, not that other simplicity which is only a euphemism for folly.

― Plato

Highly sensitive people are too often perceived as weaklings or damaged goods. To feel intensely is not a symptom of weakness, it is the trademark of the truly alive and compassionate. It is not the empath who is broken, it is society that has become dysfunctional and emotionally disabled. There is no shame in expressing your authentic feelings. Those who are at times described as being a 'hot mess' or having 'too many issues' are the very fabric of what keeps the dream alive for a more caring, humane world. Never be ashamed to let your tears shine a light in this world.

― Anthon St. Maarten

A.B.

 Love, Invitation To Inspiration