Really now?
How authentic are we? Do we have to be, should we be authentic? Or is it totally overrated? The columnist does the authenticity check with a certificate of authenticity.
According to "People.com", the adjective "authentic" is the word of the year 2023, as chosen by "America's Most Trusted Dictionary", Merriam Webster. Because: The year 2023 has a reputation for not necessarily having been particularly authentic. And the less authenticity there is right now, the more it will be sought after and appreciated, they say.
I think I am quite authentic. My face looks almost too authentic in the mirror every morning; I've since completed an apprenticeship as a plasterer so that I can leave the house without being unpleasantly conspicuous. It's nonsense, of course, but let's be real: there's hardly anything done to this face. But because it's not just about the outside, but also the inside, I was already looking for ways to optimize 2024 for myself before the new year had even begun.
Thank you!
And I have to be completely honest: Today is December 16, eight days until Christmas and I don't have all my presents or a tree. I also haven't sorted the baubles by color, as I actually intended, so they've been lying untouched in the basement for almost a year. I can immediately sink the following advice in the toilet: "Start a gratitude diary" (I don't need it, I have a column), "Meditate regularly for five minutes" (then fall asleep after two minutes), "Call a person who is important to you instead of texting them" (I'm still working), "Dedicate one day a month just to yourself" (okay, every six months). I could go on like this forever.
What has already worked: "Put your thoughts on paper" (well, see above, I have a column), "Consume movies/podcasts/books that make you laugh (nothing else!), "Name your feelings" (I feel that it annoys me that I am the only person at home who seems to have the sole sovereign knowledge of where to find or put away the Tupperware, the old glass, the plastic and paper waste, vacuum cleaner bags and the like, and I name this feeling, but it is not always conducive to domestic peace if I free myself emotionally from the bad vibes, that's for sure). The "do one thing at a time" tip just happened on its own because I was either fed up with this multitasking thing or simply couldn't do it anymore. Well, two or three things on the side are still possible.
Excellent!
I just have to say, I'm super-authentic. You can read my mood from the tip of my nose, I'm a bad actress. But otherwise I'm great. I can say that because you should praise yourself more often. So, well done, Sabine, you've committed yourself to others, spoken to therapists (interview partners, does that count?), changed locations more often (okay, a lot this year, there was some catching up to do, the last generation will probably soon be stuck right in my front garden), I've swapped my cell phone alarm clock for an analog one, check, and I'm currently learning how to hand over tasks. And say no. And goodbye. So I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful Christmas and stay authentic. Or become one.
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In the realm of psychology, a study conducted during the holiday season of 2024 explored the impact of authenticity on stress levels, finding that individuals who embraced their authentic selves during Christmas experienced lower stress compared to those who pretended to be someone they're not. Furthermore, the International Psychological Association recognized the significance of this finding and proposed integrating authenticity practices into mental health programs worldwide, aiming to promote well-being during the festive period.
Source: www.ntv.de
