Authentic and Eudaimonic

8 Acts Of Authenticity

Experts offer their (sometimes conflicting) views on how to lead the authentic life.

• Read novels. "It's the best way to figure out what it feels like to be in someone else's head—and that's what helps us to distinguish our own identity." —John Portmann, professor of religious ethics, University of Virginia
• Meditate. "Meditative absorption creates moments of happiness not contingent on outcomes or external factors or manipulation of the environment. From that platform you can investigate how to create real fulfillment." —Stephen Cope, scholar-in-residence, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
• Be deliberate. "Authenticity consists in being aware that you have choices and consciously choosing what you do." —Roy Baumeister, social psychologist, University of Florida
• But not too deliberate. "People often make better decisions when they don't think about them. Go with your gut. Authentic reactions are much more at a gut level." —Mark Leary, social psychologist, Duke University
• Cultivate solitude. "Quiet and time for the self are a big plus. If you're worried about inauthenticity, there's nothing like shutting the door." —Peter Kramer, clinical psychiatrist, Brown University
• But stay connected. "Community is an outlook toward life in which you define yourself in relation to the world around you, rather than only in connection with yourself. I recommend enlarging the sense of self." —Thomas Moore, psychotherapist and author of A Life at Work
• Play hard. "Whether it's taking an art class, playing basketball, running, or just hanging out with friends, doing something you really enjoy allows you to express who you really are." —Michael Kernis, social psychologist, University of Georgia
• And be willing to lose. "Feelings of inauthenticity are heightened by a lack of a philosophy that allows failure to be part of life. If you're leading a full life, you're going to fail some every day." —Thomas Moore

The New, True, Eudaimonic You

Eudaimonia refers to a state of well-being and full functioning that derives from a sense of living in accordance with one's deeply held values—in other words, from a sense of authenticity. Some characteristics of the eudaimonic life include:

• Being open to experience without censorship or distortion
• Living fully in the moment, so the self feels fluid rather than static
• Trusting inner experience to guide behavior
• Feeling free to respond rather than automatically react to life events
• Taking a creative approach to living, rather than relying on routine and habit.