Wellbeing Wednesday: Authentically You

Welcome back to Wellbeing Wednesday. Today, I want to talk about a word that gets thrown around a lot in self-help circles but is incredibly difficult to live out in practice: Authenticity. All these thoughts were inspired by recently personal experiences and reading Brene Brown’s book, “The Gift of Imperfection”….. closely backed up by the first thing I then read in Gregory Maguire’s “Elphie”….. the universe is talking to me haha.

In a world dominated by the “Instagram vs. Reality” divide, we are repeatedly pushed toward inauthenticity. We are coached to seek perfection, to chase quick dopamine hits through likes and follows, and to present a curated “best self” that often bears little resemblance to our actual lives.

As a mum, a teacher, a performer, and a music therapist, I feel these pressures from every angle. How do we remain authentic when the world seems to demand a polished performance at every turn?

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The Performance of Perfection

This is especially true in the world of the performing arts. It is an industry built on visibility, where everyone has a judgment and an opinion, often aired with total confidence by those who have never stepped into a performing space. When you know you are being watched and critiqued, the temptation is to “play it safe,” to mask your true self, and to give the audience exactly what you think they want to see, chasing a desire to be “liked”, approved….. the list goes on.

But here is the truth: Inauthenticity is exhausting. It’s a dissonant chord that vibrates through everything we do.

My “Why”: The Heart of the Work

For me, I’ve come to understand that my authenticity isn’t about being “perfect”; it’s about a deep level of care. I do these jobs, the teaching, the therapy work, the creativity, because I care deeply and passionately about their impact on the world around us, on the wellbeing they can provide our communities, our young people, ourselves.

My authenticity lies in supporting people to find their own voices and creativity in a safe space.

• A space safe from judgment.
• A space safe from the biting sting of “public opinion.”
• A space where experimentation is the goal, not the byproduct.

The Bravery of the “Authentic Failure”

In my work, I strive to hold a space where authentic choices and failures are encouraged. Why? Because without those messy “tries,” those “wrong” notes, and those moments of vulnerability, we can never truly succeed.

Authenticity requires the bravery to be “disappointing” to the critics so that you can be true to yourself. In music therapy, we call this Creative Agency. It’s the moment you stop playing the notes someone else wrote for you and start sounding your own truth.

The Bravery of the “Inner Solo”

Authenticity is often talked about as if it’s a destination we simply arrive at, but the truth is that it takes immense bravery to become authentic. It requires the courage to go against the flow of “what is expected” and the grit to speak your truth in a world that often prefers a script.

When you choose to be authentic (in all your elements) you are making a radical leap of faith. You are trusting that when you sound your true note, those hearing it will have the grace to hold it. It is terrifying to stand in your truth and wonder if the world will meet you there, but it is the only way to find a connection that is real. In music, a harmony only works if both notes are distinct and true; if one is faked, the resonance is lost. Being brave enough to be “you” is the only way to find your true ensemble.

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How to Remain “Authentically You” This Week:

1. Identify Your “Care” Center: When you feel the pressure to perform or please, ask yourself: “Why am I doing this?” If the answer is rooted in care and passion, you are on the right track.
2. Embrace the Dissonance: You don’t have to be in harmony with everyone’s opinion. Authenticity often sounds like a “clash” to those who prefer a curated life. Let it clash.
3. Create Your Own Safe Space: Whether it’s in your home as a mum or in your studio as a teacher, explicitly give yourself and others permission to fail.
4. 4. The “Internal Hum” of Truth: Before you step into a meeting, a classroom, or onto a stage, take a second to hum a low, steady note. Feel your own vibration. Remind yourself: “This is my voice. It is enough.”

The Journey to Being Me

Our lives are a consolidation not an add on or a change. My authenticity is the sum of all my parts: the mum who is tired but present, the therapist who listens with empathy, the performer who risks judgment, and the teacher who cheers for every “mistake.”

It is all part of my journey to being me. And in a world of filters and reality TV, being authentically you is the most rebellious, beautiful thing you can be.

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