What Does Authentic Self Mean

Seventy percent of people say they feel disconnected from who they really are at some point in life, and that number makes sense when you look at how we’re trained to chase approval. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the “right” things but still feel off, this conversation is for you. We get real about the cost of living by external expectations and why authenticity is not a luxury, it’s the foundation for personal growth, peace of mind, and lasting motivation. 

We share a personal story of starting the Journey to Success with big dreams like financial freedom and more time with family, then running into the reality: the journey takes longer, sacrifices hit harder than expected, and progress can feel confusing when you’re not clear about who you are. We break down what “authentic self” actually means, how societal pressure and self-doubt build a kind of invisible cage, and why it’s exhausting to perform a life that doesn’t fit your values. 

From there, we focus on the most practical takeaway: clarity. When you get clear about who you are, what you want to become, and what you want to do in life, you stop living on autopilot. You make better decisions, waste less time on trial and error, and build the skills and mindset that your goals truly require. We also close with a reminder you may need more than you think: your existence is already extraordinary, your voice matters, and you are enough as you are. 

If this hits home, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What’s one expectation you’re ready to stop living for?

Transcript

Disconnection And The Big Question

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Have you ever considered how many people feel in tune with their true selves? Studies, guys, indicate that about 70% of people report feeling disconnected from who they really are and from what they really want in life, you know, at various points in their lives. So, what could be the reasons for this general struggle with uh authenticity and self-discovery? We don't know that yet, but that's what we are going to talk about

My Dream Versus Reality

SPEAKER_00 0:35

today. Hi guys, my name is Fabio from Journey to Success and welcome. When I started this journey, I thought I knew what I want to do. You know, financial freedom, travel the world, see my family more often. I'm sure you can uh relate to my feelings. But the reality is far from what I expected. I didn't realize how long this journey would take. Or the sacrifices, you know, I would have to make my time, my hobbies, my my connections. The more I move forward, the more I realize how much I've missed. Do I regret it? No, absolutely not. Even if I want to, I couldn't. I mean, I'm on a mission, you know, and uh have reached the point where I cannot turn back. However, I wish someone from my past had told me what to expect, you know. So now I want to share something with you in a very bland conversational way. So

Defining The Authentic Self

SPEAKER_00 1:48

today we're going to introduce the concept of finding one's authentic self and highlight its importance for personal growth and happiness. And we're going to discuss also the common challenges people face in their journey to authenticity, such as uh societal expectations and self-doubt. But before we go forward, as always, please subscribe so I know this is the right direction to lead you guys, to drive you and to guide you towards your journey to success. And let's get started. All right, as always. So the concept of the authentic self emphasizes being true to yourself, okay? Basically embracing your genuine thoughts, feelings, values, and beliefs rather than serving external expectations or societal norms. So it means living in a way that aligns with your core identity, okay? Without the influence of fear, the influence of judgment, or the need for others' approval. So let's start first with the concept, okay?

Breaking Out Of Social Pressure

SPEAKER_00 3:12

And when I started my journey more than a decade ago, my authentic self was focused on external acceptance. Because I wasn't that I don't know, I wasn't that charismatic or smart guy in school, or with a group of friends, you know. I always felt like had to prove something just to be in the same room, not even at the same table as the rest of the others, but at least on the same room or on the same train, even if I was sitting at the very back of the train, you know. And and yes, this, and let's not even forget about societal norms being pushed toward a certain type of education chosen by others, guys, you know, by families, related people, being expected to show respect also in a very specific way to people older than you. And living a life limited by what society, the media, or even the people around you indirectly expect you to become or how to act, you know, is just exhausting. It was exhausting. So I relate completely if you are in this boat right now. And listen, I grew up in a small village in Italy where societal norms were even stronger because they were shaped by the mentality of the village itself, you know. So when you live trapped inside a castle, but this castle is built by other people's expectations, it becomes very difficult to discover who you truly are. It becomes hard to build an authentic self that fully embraces your genuine thoughts, feeling, values, and beliefs. It's not possi it, it's not impossible. Okay, it's not impossible because otherwise I wouldn't be here talking with you with a podcast. But it's challenging. I'm not gonna lie to you, it is challenging. But guess what? It's not only the hard part.

Why Progress Feels So Slow

SPEAKER_00 5:38

One of the hardest parts comes when you want to achieve certain goals. Unfortunately, it can take much longer than it should if you live in a castle built by others with their dreams, because you fulfill their purposes, their purpose. Why is that? Why would be hard for you to achieve your goals then? The reason is simple, is that if you didn't take the time to build your authentic self along the way, right? It means you didn't invest enough energy and time into developing certain skills or getting an education you wanted to build for yourself, to reach your dreams, to reach your goals. And as a result, you begin your journey with misconceptions based on what you do and what you don't know. Think that you want to live your current reality as fast as possible, right? And you want to achieve your dream faster. But the truth is that you can't. You can't. Why? What is the reason? Because you don't have yet the right knowledge, the right education. So what you know is limited. And the sad part is that you may not even realize it yet. And this was my experience. I realized I didn't want to be part of that reality. I wanted to change my life and create a new reality for myself. But I didn't know that would have taken a different mindset, a different education, even, you know, reading books, watching videos, or just a podcast for personal growth, for example, as mine right now. And of course, more clarity. I needed more clarity. You need more clarity. So to build your true self, you need a different mindset, which you can achieve through different studies and education, as I said. Even books, even simple books can be your best teachers in this case, you know? And clarity. Clarity is everything, as we talked about in another episode. The clearer you are, the faster you move forward, and the faster you move, the more mastery you can develop over what you truly want to do in your life. And when you become clear about who you are, guys, because you know, in the meantime, you master your skills through the right knowledge for you, what you value, and where you want to go, you basically stop living on autopilot. Okay? You begin making decisions align finally with your authentic self rather than those shaped by fear, pressure, and especially older people's expectations. And when you finally do that, it can take you really far, even without stress, even even if the the path is longer than you expect it. Because in the meantime, you can breathe in and breath out, you know. You you're gonna compromise less once you are clear, once you know what you what you want to do, uh you have more time with yourself, you have more time with others, and with the people who love you. You can also compromise less, you can enjoy better your life, you can make less trial and error because you know what to do, because you understand your core, all right.

Clarity As The Starting Engine

SPEAKER_00 9:33

And guys, it took me more than a decade to understand this, but here I am telling you that you can achieve your goals faster than I did, faster than anyone else, with more clarity, less doubt, and enjoy your journey better. I know it is hard to stay calm, you know, when pursuing your dreams. And I mean, I didn't know how to do this for more than 10 years, you know. I understand the rush, I understand to achieve your goal faster, you know. And I mean, I understand the long hours spent trying something new that doesn't work, you know, I understand the sacrifices. And I still wake up at 5 30 today most mornings with Mikrania. So I understand, I I relate with you. I know that you might be in the same position as I am right now with the realization, hey, but just a moment, if I'm more clear about what I what I have to do or who I want to become, then uh my path would be could be better, could be easier. Maybe some of you haven't started yet. Maybe some of you didn't start this this path yet. Perhaps some of you are pretty far forward more than me. But to reassume, I want to offer one big piece of advice. To build your authentic self, you need to be clear about who you are, what you want to become, and uh what you want to do in life. That's it, that's what you need. And then, of course, the rest will follow as a study, uh, you know, that develops a different mindset. Um, then we have perseverance, you know, resilience, consistency, discipline, etc. etc., you know. But clarity, clarity is fundamental to start the engine, you know, and develop your authentic self. An authentic self is described by self-awareness, okay? Self-awareness, self-acceptance, and uh confidence in one's individuality. When someone is in touch with their authentic self, guys, they're more likely to pursue their passions, set meaningful goals, and cultivate great relationships. This way of living encourages personal growth and, of course, happiness because it lets people align their lives with what they truly want and believe, of course. As we said, achieving this authenticity can be challenging because of societal pressures, of doubt, fear of rejection, you know. Many of you struggle to identify what truly resonates with you all, often influenced by what you think you should do, what you think you you you you want to do, or how you should act. But

Your Existence Is Extraordinary

SPEAKER_00 12:49

remember that you are a miracle, okay? You are a miracle, we are miracles. Think about this for a second. Out of hundreds of millions of sperm cells, one made it, and this one, you know, somehow became you. Alright. But your existence is not just about that single moment. Your parents had to meet at the exact right time. Your grandparents had to survive every generation before you had to make it through wars, heartbreak, uncertainty, pain, you know, and strangle just for the chain to continue. A tiny different decision somewhere in history. And you would not be here, guys. And the probability of you existing is so small that it is almost sounds impossible for all of us. Yet here you are, here we are. Okay, breathing, thinking, dreaming, fighting for a better life. Try again after failure, you know, searching for meaning. Sometimes we we wake up and treat life casually, you know, forgetting how rare this opportunity really is. We compare ourselves to others, doubt ourselves, and act as if our presence in this world is ordinary or is not enough. But statistically, emotionally, spiritually, your existence is already extraordinary. You are more than enough. We are more than enough. We are we are so perfect, beautiful. We have already done enough, we have already beaten impossible probabilities just by being born, guys. And it is something to remind ourselves to me as well, you know, because I'm not the kind to myself as I wish. The chances of you being here, you know, for all of us, of being here were almost zero. But we have already achieved the impossible, guys. You were born authentically beautiful and perfect. Just remember that you are here for a reason, okay? That's it. You are here for a reason, and you don't know that yet. We don't know that yet. Yes, I'm I have a podcast, I'm in personal growth right now, but who knows in the future. Life is so unpredictable, you know. What is the big picture about all of this? We don't really know that yet. We think we know that because we are, I don't know, we are humans and uh arrogant, you know, naturally arrogant in a certain sense, but the truth is that we don't know that yet. But we know something. We know that our voice matters, our story matters, and that anyway we have dreams inside us, and these dreams matters more than we think. So your dream inside you matters more than you think. Everything else will follow, guys, alright. So, what does authentic self mean? Just remember to be clear about who you are, what you want to become, and what you want to do in life. That's it. That's how you can be authentic with yourself.

Final Takeaways On Authentic Living

SPEAKER_00 16:53

So, before wrapping up, right, the journey toward discovering your authentic self is vital for personal growth and happiness. Remember that many people struggle with feelings of disconnection because of societal expectations and self-doubt, alright? As we discussed, embracing your true thoughts, feelings, values, and beliefs is essential in breaking free from these restrictions. And it is crucial to gain clarity about who you are and what you want to achieve in life. Clarity helps you make choices align with your authentic self, guys, reducing stress and enlarging, of course, your ability to navigate challenges. And remember, remember that your existence is extraordinary. You've already achieved the incredible just by being here. Your voice and story matter, and you you are enough just as you are. So embrace your journey with confidence, of course. Have no doubts. Well, it's part of us, but hey, less as possible, you know. Try to not have so many doubts, and especially take those steps toward authenticity. Reflect on your own path, guys, honor your identity, and keep aiming to align your life with your true desires. So the journey may take time, it may take time, I'm not gonna lie to you, but it is one worth taking, I can tell you. Thank you for joining me today, guys, and I wish this inspires you as you move forward on your own journey to

Share Your Story And Stay Connected

SPEAKER_00 18:44

success. Now, I would really like to hear from you. Have you ever felt disconnected from your true self, guys? Have you uh ever realized that you were living more for other people's expectations than uh for your own dreams? Send me a message, share your story, or connect with me on Soupstack, of course. I would truly love to hear about your journey, your struggles, and the person you are becoming. And if today's episode resonated with you, make sure to subscribe, alright, so you never miss an update. But more importantly, share this episode with someone who might need a reminder that their existence matters, their voice matters, and that it's never too late to reconnect with who they uh truly are. Thank you so much for being here on Journey to Success. Remember, clarity creates direction, and authenticity creates freedom. I'll see you in the next episode. Cheers.