The Value of Authenticity. The Stress of Living Behind a Mask

Authenticity as a Pillar of Well-being

Another value of utmost importance in order to achieve a balanced life with less stress is, without a doubt, the fundamental principle of complete authenticity.

When we do not have the freedom to behave as we truly are on the inside, we inevitably begin to feel a deep level of stress, anguish, and discomfort.

This lack of alignment between our inner selves and our external actions is one of the most common sources of psychological conflict that we can experience.

Living outside of our authenticity leads us to a state of constant tension, because deep down we know that we are not being true to ourselves.

1.25.2 The Social Facade: The Effort to Be Who We Are Not

Sometimes, in order to obtain something in return, we tend to behave in hypocritical ways, living our lives through a facade or a social mask.

We strive to be someone we are not, trying to please other people so that they value us, love us, or give us their valued approval.

This constant performance requires an enormous amount of energy and exhausting effort, since we must maintain a fictitious version of ourselves at all times.

Often, this leads us to do things that deep down we do not like or are not interested in, just to fit in and be accepted by those around us.

This behavior arises when we are unaware of who we are or do not recognize our intrinsic value, seeking validation in the eyes of others.

The Unsustainability of the Mask and its Consequences

We must understand that living an inauthentic life is not something we can maintain in the long term, since this facade is a completely unsustainable construction over time.

After a while, these types of social masks inevitably begin to become damaged, break, and destroy, generating a a feeling of annoyance and deep discomfort.

The effort of trying to get someone to like us so that they value us becomes a very heavy burden, a source of discomfort and a catalyst for stress.

When we live outside of our authenticity, we enter a state of chronic stress because this way of acting is simply not something that can be maintained indefinitely.

The Impact of Falsehood on Human Relationships

We do not like to realize that the people around us have been hypocritical, because discovering that they are not what we thought is a quite harmful experience.

In the same way, our own lack of authenticity prevents us from building relationships that are truly good, honest and, above all, that are very long-lasting.

It is impossible to establish a real and deep connection with another person if we are not able to show ourselves as we are, with our virtues and our defects.

Authenticity is the foundation on which relationships of trust are built, and without it, Any bond we try to create will be fragile and superficial in nature.