By Tina Vasquez (Los Angeles)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, chances are you’ve heard the buzz phrase “authentic self.” From diversity efforts and communication, to making those in the LGBT community feel more at ease in the workplace, this phrase du jour has come to encompass everything under the sun, especially as it relates to women in the business world. At this point, what does the “your authentic self” even mean?
Many motivational speakers would have us believe that tapping into our authentic selves is as simple as having an understanding of who we want to be and doing what we truly want. In other words, we just have to be ourselves and the rest will fall in place, but is it that simple?
In a recent column, Marcia Reynolds, author of the book Wander Woman: How High-Achieving Women Find Contentment and Direction, discussed many of the questions that arise when women begin seeking out their authentic selves. “Women should be real, but what does this mean, really?” Reynolds wrote. “If you adapt to a situation so your ideas will be heard, are you being inauthentic? If you refrain from telling people details of your personal life, are you living a lie? If you are learning new skills but feel awkward when trying them out, are you being a fake? Or are you being an authentic human trying to fit into various social situations?”
How should women go about tackling these difficult questions? After speaking to women from around the country, it became clear that there is no singular path; one size does not fit all.