Chronic Illness Q&A with Dr. B

Dr. Larry Berkelhammer

The purpose of this blog and the entire website is to provide evidence-based information on how to live a vibrant, meaningful life while living with chronic health challenges or other life challenges.

I post to this blog three times per week. Monday posts are evidence-based published articles on mindfulness research and mindfulness-based practices, especially as they relate to health. Wednesday posts are videos of my presentations or interviews. Friday posts consist of Q&A related to living a meaningful, values-based life, regardless of the nature of your particular life challenges.

Here is this week’s question:

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:  What is Authenticity and Authentic Self-Expression?

ANSWER:   Authenticity is about being real. It involves speaking honestly and behaving in ways that are in harmony with our deepest personal life values. People who have a sense of being a valued member of some type of community or group are in an environment conducive to the practice of authenticity and authentic self-expression because inherent in belonging is the emotional safety and trust that inspires authenticity. Authenticity is also good for health and wellbeing. It is related to self-acceptance and in fact, they could be seen as two ways of describing the same behavior.

Being human, we all find ourselves speaking inauthentically at times. When that happens, remind yourself of your commitment to practice authenticity. Whenever we practice anything, errors of omission or commission will occur; when that happens, self-compassion is what is then most important.

This website is offered as a free public service, supplying information that has been found helpful to certain people living with chronic health challenges or issues related to wellbeing. No treatment is offered on this website. The advice is general, and may or may not apply to your individual situation, and is not a substitute for psychotherapy or medical treatment.

What questions do you have about living a life of mastery or about the relationship between the mind and health or wellbeing?

Just scroll down and type your question in the comment box below. Your specific question may not appear in this column. The reason for that is I wait until I get a certain number of related questions, then I pick one that covers them all and I answer that one. People in my classes and presentations asked most of the questions appearing in this column