One of my professors was talking about having an authentic self, and that made me think if I had one. After some speculation, I know for a fact that I do not have an authentic self. And by that, I mean I personally don’t identify myself as being one person. It might seem crazy, but it’s true. Let me explain. When I talk to someone, there is a certain way that I will talk to them. Whether it is that I’m excited for meeting them for the first time or that I talk with a deeper voice to sound a little manlier?, it really seems like I have a different personality for different people. And I’m pretty sure that I am not alone in this. My professor even said he didn’t have an authentic self. But I find this rather interesting. I know that not having one is to my own advantage. I can adapt in conversations, I can talk to a wide range of people, and I can keep a conversation with a variety of different people. Without this skill, people die, as I have been told. So, let me ask you: do you have an authentic self?
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Wow, that’s a hard question… I’d like to say I do, but you are right as well. There are different versions of me that appear at different moments to suit the situation. However, I am not the most adaptable person around and it is not uncommon for me to just not fit in at all or to simply refuse to do so… Not sure if that makes me authentic though, or just kind of awkward. 😛