Thread: tell me how to live an authentic life?

Go for what you want, not what society wants of you.

Try not to worry about if you are on the "one true path" for your life, you'd have to be a really picky person if only one path is right. Just try something you like and are comfortable with, and forget about what you're supposed to be.

You do realize how strange it sounds to ask for techniques on how to be authentic, right?

Read Eckhart Tolle's books, The Power of Now and A New Earth.

In a nut shell, stop agreeing with your thoughts and identifying with your thinker. It's habitual, so it requires correcting a habit which takes time. I still spend most of my time agreeing with my thoughts. It's important I note that to no longer agree with your thoughts doesn't mean you disagree with them. You simply realize they are thoughts, and not truths. You realize what you think of yourself is not true, as well. You become free from identification, free from the role you believe you should play. You become authentic.

original poster thanks for the reply and believe it or not i am a huge fan of Eckhart Tolle's teachings , i have read the power of now a couple of times but to be honest with you its so hard for me to practice it , my mind , constantly works and my thoughts never stop , i have tried everything including meditation but i still can not shut down my thoughts even for 2 minutes , accidentally i have experienced a couple of times to be in the moment and to separate myself from my thoughts and it was so pleasant , i haven't gave up though and i feel like i am slowly progressing and i know that i need to make some changes so i can live more peacefully.

The goal is not to be without thoughts. The goal is to stop believing your thoughts are true. You do not need to force them out, merely get in touch with the part of yourself that is not limited by them. Notice space. Allow space. That space is you. That space receives your thoughts. It does not judge them, the thinker judges them. You don't need to fight your judgments about reality. Merely remember that they're not true, and they're not you. You are the space the receives all. You have judgments, but you are not the judgments.

And be patient. Strive for authentic moments rather than permanent solutions.

Another author I recommend is Miguel Ruiz. The Four Agreements and The Fifth Agreement are both very excellent books. I'm having trouble finding a PDF of the fifth agreement but it's the one I read most recently and it had a lot of practical information that helps one realize how to master their thoughts.

As a believer in existentialist philosophy on the subject, I am compelled to tell you that you are the only person who can answer that question with specifics.

I have realized one major thing that can prevent us from living our authentic life is fear.

Yes, fear definetly has a major role in keeping you from living the life you want. You just gotta fuck the world and dare to dream. You gotta realize how insanely powerful your soul is and let it do its thing. Who cares what your brain thinks, or what your body is capable of. What matters is the soul. Your soul is infinite and it can take on any fear or struggle. Fear is so easy to get over that it seems hard. We make it way harder than it is! Check out my thread on fear . Also you might want to check out the book "The Alchemist". That book changed my life. Do what you believe and not what you think.
Peace

I think I've figured out what I want to do with my life to be 100% "authentic" and I haven't been able to stray from the idea for several months, with lots and lots of research and thinking throughout those months.

I don't know how I came upon it, but I think the key is to just find that one thing you really want to do with your life. That one career you will absolutely love where money is not even a factor AT ALL. Luckily for me, it's enough to support myself easily, but I found that one thing that I want to do.

It is unique, however, that in such a particular military life, my entire life is my job. It's not "go to work, come home, have fun." It's more of a go to work, live that lifestyle.


Just my thoughts. I always feel like life is centered around what you spend 40 or more hours a week doing.

In the end it's about what makes YOU happy. What makes life seem exciting and wholesome to you, may be completely the opposite from another and vice versa.