Seeking Genuineness
As is my normal habit, early afternoon Sunday I was watching most of the Sunday morning talk shows. Really, I just fast forward through the politicians to watch the other segments. But this week I noticed how vibrant a couple of the female hosts fingernails were---their fingernail polish. When I commented to my wife about this, she laughed and said those are fake. I asked how is that possible and she said that one of the common trends of the day is that people have shorter fake nails that they replace each week. I then asked the natural male question, “why.” She just shrugged.
Add to this what I saw last night. After the kids had gone to bed, my wife and I had a chance to watch the latest episode of Bridgerton. If you're not familiar, don't worry. In this particular episode let's just say that there was one elongated scene that left very little to the imagination. More so than I really like on television. But what I found interesting was a couple of articles about the actress (Nicola Coughlan) and her willingness to disrobe. Most observers would say she's not the typical body type that most might seek out. Her commentary was illuminating and refreshing. She said she was who she was, she likes who she is, and she was OK with this as evidence of her great acting craft and her confidence. Her commentary made me smile.
These two unrelated witnessed television events allowed me to consider the importance of being genuine. While I have no evidence or knowledge of any of the people in either of these two situations, I did think about how important it is to be true to yourself. To be OK with who you are. To be genuine.
Being genuine is a quality that transcends the “superficial;” it is a cornerstone of authenticity that fosters trust, connection, and personal growth. Genuine individuals are true to themselves and others, which cultivates deeper and more meaningful relationships. Authenticity builds trust because when people are genuine, their actions align with their beliefs and values. This consistency allows others to rely on them and understand their motivations, creating a stable foundation for relationships in both personal and professional settings.
Moreover, being genuine encourages openness and vulnerability. When people are authentic, they are more likely to express their true thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or rejection. This openness fosters empathy and understanding, as it encourages others to reciprocate with their own genuine emotions.
Being genuine also contributes to personal growth and self-acceptance. By embracing their true selves, individuals can better understand their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. This self-awareness facilitates continuous growth and development, as genuine people are more likely to seek feedback and learn from their experiences (See Maslow and self-actualization).
While I believe all of the above is true, the difficulty is actually accomplishing (doing, be open to) a sense of genuineness. We have fears of so much. We're all too hard on ourselves. We all too often attempt to live up to unreasonable standards that maybe actually nobody set but everybody thinks are normal. We tend to look in the mirror and not like what we see.
I'm aiming for the actress’s view of genuineness---and for sure with all of my clothes on. I'm not sure if I'll get there, today or tomorrow, but if we forget about the destination as the ultimate goal and concentrate on the journey, self-growth towards genuineness becomes much more possible.
