Gabriela Pinto
(Editor’s Note: This blog was written for the Humanity Project by Gabriela Pinto, Vice President of the Humanity Project Board of Directors. Ms. Pinto is the creator of the website http://www.heal-anxiety-and-depression.com.)
As a society we have agreed on general beliefs about what is right and what is wrong. What it means to be successful and what it means to not make the grade. But it is a limited perspective on life. We are all individuals, not molds. As a result, often times we carry on an internal struggle. We impose an image on ourselves of what we think we should be or what others expect us to be rather than what we really are. Instead of befriending and trusting the individual we truly are inside, we sometimes try to deny it or even annihilate it. For instance, if your heart tells you to pursue a career in acting or painting instead of a 9 to 5 office job, what is really keeping you from doing it? The only thing that moves us to be something we are not is fear. Fear of criticism, fear of lack of approval, fear of failure.
It is here where you should ask yourself: Should I trust a made-up version of myself or the real version? Which one would better guide me through life? Which one can I rely on? Being authentic and true is not only a gift to us but a gift to humanity. Discovering our true talents, embracing our limitations and trusting the individual we have inside is what will really fulfill us. Our uniqueness makes for us a unique path to walk. And walking that unique path will teach us unique lessons that will benefit us all. By revealing who we truly are inside we enrich humanity as a whole. An education towards authenticity should be mandatory. It should be the purpose in all stages of life.
