Am I Being Authentic?

September 02, 2018

Happy Sunday, guys! Congratulations - you have survived another week of school! *hands out dark chocolate*


(Completely unrelated note: I tried 72% dark chocolate for the first time this month and WOW. I was definitely not expecting how bitter it would be. I liked it, but I’m sticking to Hershey’s Special Dark now, thank you.)

———end of irrelevant tangent———

However, I’m not here to talk about dark chocolate, as fun as that may be. (Sorry, guys.) Instead, I’m coming at you with a slightly more serious post. So, as always, prepare for potentially incoherent ramblings.



I get it. We all get it. It’s really, really hard to “be ourselves” in society. Our culture keeps pulling us in different directions, to write what they want us to write, to do what they want us to do, to be who they want us to be. 

How many times have we actually changed ourselves because we wanted to “fit in”? To say that we belong in this world? To be accepted in a world that might never accept us for who we really are? 

I gotta say, that’s really, really depressing to think that people might not like us for being ourselves. (But seriously, no one can be liked by everyone. That would be really nice, but I’m not sure how to do that. If someone knows, please inform me and we can rule the galaxy together.)  p

But first - what do I mean by “being ourselves”?
I feel like in this day and age, the phrase being ourselves is being warped. It seems like people use this as an excuse to do whatever the heck they want, and then call it “part of their personality.”

What????

Sorry. That just makes no sense to me.

For the record here, I’m not talking about mental illness. I’m talking about this.

"Oh, yeah, the two of us just can’t get along. Our personalities just clash, and there’s nothing I can do to get along with him. So I’m just not going to like him. It’s embedded in my genetic code."

Um . . . does anyone else see a problem here?

So (because I feel like some clarification is in order) I’m not going to use that phrase. Instead, I will use the word authentic.

Authentic is a beautiful word. Here’s how the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it:

not false or imitation; true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character

I’m not going to be using that definition. Here’s how I define authentic: because you all want to know my opinion on things 

being the best version of yourself, remembering that at your core, you are God’s creation 

Because isn’t the whole point of life to get to Heaven? God created you specifically for that reason: to know His love and share it with the world, and then, one day, see Him in Heaven.
So what does this have to do with “being ourselves”?

(Here it is, guys, the big build-up has led to this)

Don’t let the world define who you are. Let God define who you are. The world doesn’t know you. It didn’t create you.

Now, God knows who you were created to be. He knows all your strengths and your flaws, your passions and your dislikes, your worries and your joys.

Being authentic is more than “being true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.” It’s about being the holiest person you can be. It’s about being a God-honoring, God-loving, God-fearing person in day-to-day life.

And yes, it’s about getting to know your personality. But I feel like if you don’t know God, you’re missing a crucial piece of your identity.

So what if you’re not popular? So what if you’re going against the crowd? So what if people don’t like you for following God and being authentic? If you are truly striving to live a God-honoring life, then these people shouldn’t really bother you.

Come on, you really think I was going to let this opportunity pass me by?

(Besides, God never promised to make your life better after you begin to follow Him. In fact, His Mother told St. Bernadette, “I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but the next.”)
So, now I’m getting into the title of this post.

Am I an authentic person? Is this blog reflecting who I am as a person, and is it reflecting God?

I don’t claim to have a perfect relationship with God or have everything figured out in life. (Ha ha. Ha. Ha. That would be amazing.) But I am trying to think about who God wants me to be as a person.

As a result, there might be a couple slight modifications to this blog. *clears throat* These include:
  1. Me not dropping off the face of the blogosphere. Sorry, guys, that’s not happening for a while. You’re stuck with me for now. *cackle* 
  2. Changing the title graphic. The name will stay the same (for now, anyways) but I thought of a better motto, and, unfortunately, that means changing the whole thing. 
  3. Me trying my very hardest not to completely redo my blog look.
  4. Me epically failing on not completely redoing my blog look.
  5. The voice of my posts might change??? Honestly, I’m not sure yet about this. But if my posts start sounding different, it’s still me, Nicole! I haven’t been kidnapped and taken into another dimension! 
  6. Me rewriting my About page for about the six millionth time. 
And . . . I think that’s it? 

Basically: I want my blog to reflect God and my personality. Which means that there might be changes over here if school doesn’t take over my life

So. *deep breath* I hope that made coherent sense. Probably not. But it’s fine.

Also, I actually have a posting schedule for this month?????? Who are you and what have you done with Nicole?

September 9th - I’m not going to talk about this one yet, but it’s kind of a touchy post that’s close to my heart. *leaves you in suspense* 
September 16th - In which you FINALLY HEAR ABOUT THE JUNK EXCELLENT BOOK I’M REWRITING!!
September 23rd - A book review. Probably. Don’t ask me about what book, because I have no idea. Yet. (I know, I plan this stuff out so well. XD) 
September 30th - Monthly recap. 

(I actually have October planned out too. WHAT IS HAPPENING)

But, of course, this is subject to change. Because, come on, am I really this reliable in sticking to blog topics? NOPE.

So. I think I got through it all. *collapses from really long monologue*

See you guys around the blogosphere!

-Nicole

Any thoughts, guys? Is it easy for you to be authentic online and in real life? If so, any tips? Let’s talk!

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15 comments

  1. Great post, Nicole!

    I can't wait to hear about your novel! I'm sure it's amazing. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Kara!

      And I can’t wait either! (But I’m also kind of nervous....) :)

      Delete
  2. I LOVE this! I've thought about it a lot......being authentic and all......I guess you would say it's one of my pet peeves. Maybe it's just my ENFP need to be unique and....well, me (!), but it's always been something I strive for, especially on my blog. Oh, and I love the point that you made, that if you don't know God, you're "missing a piece of your identity."

    God bless you! Have a wonderful Sunday!

    In the Immaculate Heart of Mary,

    Emma // Gloria-In-Excelsis-Deo-blog.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, thank you so much, Emma! That’s true for me as well: I always wonder, "Is this true to who I am??”

      Thanks for reading, Emma!

      Delete
  3. Good! Lovely! Amazing! (Sorry, if I run out of things to say, I just randomly spurt out adjectives XD)
    Looking forward to the next few posts! :D

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  4. I've been struggling with this lately- is it better to stay myself like I am right now and not strive to become any closer to Jesus, or to try to expand my horizons and comfort zones and actively serve for God, which isn't easy for me? So thank you for the post, Nicole. It's encouraging me. :)

    Found out about your blog through your comment on Abbie's newest post, by the way. I'd love it if you would check mine out too (linked below), but no pressure if you're not interested. :P And it's also really cool that you have a schedule now. xD I should do that too, though I've always been more of a pantser regarding my blogs, lol.

    Lilian | greenteawithbooks.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lilian! I’m glad you found it helpful!

      Haha, yes, Abbie is awesome, isn’t she? And ooo, you have a blog? I will definitely check it out!

      (I know, I’m usually a panther too! WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME)

      Delete
    2. *facepalm* stupid autocorrect. I MEANT to say "I’m usually a PANTSER too!” (Although I guess I could be a panther.......idk)

      Delete
  5. Can I like hug this post? Because this is something that I think everyone goes through and everyone needs to own up to this feeling and fear and just work together to feel better.

    Great post. <3

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    Replies
    1. Oh my goodness, THANK YOU, Gray! And I definitely agree; everyone needs to recognize this and figure it out together. <3

      Delete
  6. I love your "incoherent ramblings" the most :). You always have some great insights, Nicole!

    Don't worry, I changed my blogging voice, my graphics and my About Me page more times than I can count in the year and some months that I've been blogging. It's totally normal!

    Catherine

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    Replies
    1. Haha, thanks, Catherine! They ARE always the most fun to write....

      Great, I’m not the only one! :) I feel like IT WILL NEVER BE PERFECT and then spend 238473 hours trying to fix it - and then deleting all the changes.

      Thanks for reading, Catherine!

      Delete
  7. "Don’t let the world define who you are. Let God define who you are." LOVE this line! So, so true. <3

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Welcome to the comment section! I love hearing what you guys think and seeing you guys talk. Just remember to keep it clean, and as always, check back for my replies! <3
-Nicole