Originally Posted by RobbyRobot
This above ^ makes sense. It follows then when we don't have faith (confidence) in our beliefs, our authenticity shallows? Weakens? Becomes ambivalent?
I don't think that is what logically follows. If I don't have confidence about a decision, or I'm ambivalent, it simply means I don't know what the right answer is yet. I believe "I don't know" is a very authentic answer.
I think that is very different from inauthenticity. Being inauthentic means doing things that I believe are wrong on some level. In some ways, in my life, this is created for me. For instance, I do not believe in the value of high stakes testing in education. I have seen first hand the negative effects it has on children and to the learning process. Nevertheless, if I do not teach to the test, then I am putting my students in jeopardy of not being able to perform on this assessment. It's doesn't matter what I believe, I must go against those beliefs.
When I was living addicted, I was behaving in ways which were not true to my nature.
On some level I knew that. That's what created my suffering.
I personally don't think lacking confidence = not being authentic. I also don't understand how authenticity can "shallow". What does that mean?