Authenticity

“2 AM and I’m still awake, writing a song

If I get it all down on paper, it’s no longer inside of me

Threatening the life it belongs to

And I feel like I’m naked in front of the crowd

‘Cause these words are my diary screaming out loud

And I know that you’ll use them however you want to”

Breathe 2 AM by Anna Nalick

To be candid with someone, to be your true self to the world, to not let what others think of you or say to you make you change into something you are not – in many ways, this is impossible, but many things in life are impossible. To live authentically is truly frightening because you realize that you are fully accountable for what you are doing. You cannot hide behind excuses or behind other people, and you will feel the full scrutiny of others’ judgment when you make a mistake or something does not work out. Alternatively, in life, you cannot avoid judgment or suffering. So you must ask yourself, would you rather suffer by your own hand or by the hand of others?