“Authenticity isn’t about having it all together it’s about being honest enough to say, ‘this is me, still evolving.’ I’d rather be real and misunderstood than polished and unrecognizable.”

Over the past few months while taking a new psychology grad course, I’ve noticed a recurring theme in society : you have to be a certain person to hold a certain title, or you have to get on board with certain trends or else, you don’t belong. The more I see this, the more I ask myself; when did our skills, beliefs, or experiences become the definition of who we are?

We all strive to do our best, yet society constantly judges. “You’re too young; you don’t know anything.” “How can you know that?” “You’re too old; you have no clue how this works.” The comments go on, and the judgment feels endless. But the truth is, the very people making these claims often overlook what truly matters: the person behind the skills, the authenticity behind the achievements.

Don’t get me wrong there are people out there who only see their own worth and ignore everyone else. They have that narcissistic ability to focus solely on themselves, and that’s okay. But eventually, even the kind who try to lead the blind will stumble, and no one will stick around to see it.

At the end of the day, the skills we develop, the many hats we wear, and the experiences we carry can outshine the narrow judgments of others. But there’s a catch , when we no longer wish to give those hats or talents, the people who truly need them lose.

blindness of others meets the value of authenticity: both in ourselves and in them.

Authenticity isn’t about proving yourself to anyone else. It’s about recognizing that who you are the genuine, evolving, sometimes messy human you show up as is more than enough. When we embrace that, we stop being defined by someone else’s checklist or criteria. We begin to value the depth of our growth, the courage in our honesty, and the strength in showing up as ourselves even if misunderstood.

Authenticity doesn’t demand perfection. It demands honesty. And that honesty is where real connection, growth, and true impact begin.