Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines authenticity as "the the quality of being real or genuine." Although simple in wording, this is not an easy quality to carry out. There is no doubt that people strive to be authentic and know what it takes to be so, but actions often contradict their well intentions. Societal expectations play a significant role in this endeavor. Every single human being is unique in their existence, yet certain norms reflect that one's "whoness" is inadequate. Online presence, Christian life, and mental health are three facets of life in which this duel between authenticity and satisfying expectations is particularly conspicuous.
Social media benefits society by providing a mechanism for communicating with friends or family around the world. At least, that was the intention. Today, social media is an addiction for many people, with its constant source of notifications and the "fear of missing out" it generates in its users. Moreover, social media is utilized to showcase the very best elements of an individual's life. Throughout its rise to becoming a predominant source of communication, social media has generated unique identities among its 1.71 billion users. An individual can utilize social media to create a "better" version of themselves in the form of a profile that emulates popular culture. With extravagant vacation photos and highly-edited profile pictures, one can give the illusion of perfection when the reality is far from it. Authenticity requires so much more than displaying the good stuff in life. An authentic individual is one who is vulnerable about the hardships and failures just as much as they are willing to celebrate the successes. Social media makes this challenging when it promotes editing out the imperfections of life.
Aside from providing a biased view of life, social media also disguises mental health disorders and insecurities. Although an individual never wants their identity to be dominated by a battle with mental illness, it is part of their authentic whole. Social media creates an alternate identity that can easily be used as a crutch to deal with social insecurities. It can embolden an individual's personality to create a seemingly flawless character. Through the editing and elimination of face-to-face interaction made possible by popular social media applications, every day interactions are much more convenient. Unfortunately, social media only conceals mental health issues, instead of resolving them. Furthermore, it can be more harmful than helpful to those who are barraged by perfection everywhere they look. Mental health is a significant obstacle to the success of society and should not be stigmatized. As someone who has battled with it, I know it is part of my authentic self, and society needs to support recognition and the finding of a solution rather than a mask.
In a world that is becoming more secularized, proclaiming one's faith and living it out in all aspects of life are challenging missions. This is perhaps one of the hardest tests to authenticity a Christian faces. For many people, Christian life takes place on Sunday and is over by the workday of Monday. Yet, this is not was Jesus intended when he sacrificed his life for His people.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22-27)
It is not enough to listen to the word on Sundays and not carry out God's message in other aspects of one's life. There is not a Christian life and a regular life - there is just life. This is undoubtedly a difficult task but one to which every Christian should dedicate time and effort.
Authenticity is not something that comes naturally in a culture that seemingly opposes it. All it takes is exposure to any form of media, and it is evident that individuality is not celebrated like it should be. Authenticity requires commitment from both society and the individual at stake, yet it is a sure way to set oneself apart as a leader and should be admired.
