Authenticity demands a congruence between our internal and our external.  Let me explain:  if you claim to be authentic, your actions must match your values and beliefs.  If one is not in sync with the other there is no authenticity.

Put differently, words are not enough.  Words matching actions every now and then is not enough as well.  Authenticity demands consistency in behavioral demonstrations. 

It is common knowledge that we live in two worlds.  These two worlds have been described in different forms: realm of invisible/visible or physical/spiritual or external/internal and or private/public.

Irrespective of the terms used, there are constant wars and juggling between these two worlds.

For a lot of people, the goal is for the internal to drive the external but there are often a lot of pressure from the external and sometimes, the external takes dominance.  It can completely snuff off the internal or silence it.  

So many years ago, I read a book by Gordon Macdonald titled Ordering your private world and this book described the game we play with these two worlds and why we must pause to order our private world with the same zeal and dedication we apply to fixing our public world.

When we talk about values, and how we need to be driven by our core values, we are referring to the internal anchors.  Your core values are your internal compass that helps you navigate the external.  They determine the choices you make or rather can determine the choices you make if given the chance.   I have met a lot of people who cannot articulate what their core values are and have never really paid attention to the life within.

Sometimes when we talk about growth, we focus on the growth of our career, professions and businesses. But external growth without internal growth may be unfulfilling.  Don’t get me wrong, your external presentation is important, but the key question is, when the lights are out, what do you see?

If you would like to have a conversation about how to live out your core values and develop your inner constancy and cohesion to lead/live with integrity, leave me a note below.