 Hi, I'm Geoff Watts and this Lightbulb talk is about being authentic. To me, being authentic is a form of being genuine. Do you ever find yourself metaphorically putting on a mask or adopting a persona when interacting with other people? While it may serve a purpose, it isn't authentic and this can take its toll on us. Being authentic means not really having to think about what we're doing or saying and when we look back on our actions we feel a sense of pride of what we have done and what we've said. Why is it important? Well, people who are more authentic tend to be more trusted and respected and have stronger personal and professional relationships. They also tend to report feeling happier, more content, more resilient and having a greater sense of fulfilment, so how can we be more authentic? Firstly, if we're to act in line with ourselves, we need to know who we are and what we stand for. Taking some time to really think about what our values are is an important first step here as we then have a better chance of knowing whether we're acting in line with them or not. You'll often notice your energy levels are different when you're acting more authentically. So look out for times when you feel drained and when you feel energised. These can be good clues. Once we understand what our values are, we can then begin to consciously practice them and reflect on our attempts at acting in line with our values. Try building in some time each day to think through your actions and reflect on how often you did or did not act authentically. Try to be mindful and notice when it's hard for you to be authentic. Don't judge yourself but instead ask yourself why it's hard for you in those situations. Are you seeking approval? Or perhaps it's because of a fear of rejection. If you can identify the source of the difficulty, you can begin to work on that symptom. Acknowledge when you aren't perfect. Admit when you make a mistake and, without being overly critical of yourself, get back up and continue practicing. Focus on all the times where you are managing to be authentic, rather than a few times when you're not. It can take a lot of courage to identify what authentic means for you, and then more courage to commit to acting in line with those values. But ultimately, as Oscar Wilde once said, be yourself, everyone else is taken.