I Changed Because I Realized I Wasn't Being 100% Authentic

I've changed. But I only changed because I felt it was the honest, right thing to do. You're not born automatically knowing how to be yourself. The self is discovered. I've found that you never step down into the same river twice. But why does it feel like it's the same river? In this conversation, let me advocate for mindful, authentic change, instead of prideful status quo. I still have questions about when you should change and why. I think we all should question the idea of change today. There's a lot of changes made just "because we're told to" and because ads and friends and family push change on us. But that's not authentic.

It's only authentic if you check in with yourself and decide to agree. It's not authentic to rebel against social expectations and conventions. It's only mindful to rebel when you believe it's truly the right thing to do. March to the beat of your own drum. But be mindful. Your drum can sometimes beat along with the drums of others. And sometimes, it might beat at a completely different time. Authenticity and vulnerability are siblings. Pride and defensiveness are brothers. Authenticity is self-affirming. Pride seeks support and approval. You wouldn't ask for approval if you genuinely believed that you did the right thing.