Life exhibiting these 5 habits, irrespective of age, marks you as an authentic individual
In the digital age, where social media dominates our daily lives, it's essential to remember the importance of living authentically. An over-reliance on such platforms can have a negative impact on mental health and well-being, as research suggests that being continually flooded with dopamine from social media platforms is screwing with our heads [1].
To counteract this, integrating low-dopamine activities into daily routines can help foster a more calm, centered, and fulfilling life. Examples of these activities include reading fiction, people-watching, doodling, sun-gazing, bird-watching, or watching the ocean waves [2]. Consciously incorporating these activities can lead to creative insights and improved mental health.
Simplifying decisions and reducing options can free up mental energy and improve decision-making. Regularly pruning one's life, including business engagements, relationships, and bad habits, can improve overall well-being and lead to less stress and increased effectiveness [3]. Adopting habits that appreciate life, such as pruning, can lead to genuine appreciation of life in one's 70s.
Regardless of feelings, a person who takes action is likely an authentic individual. Acting in alignment with values despite emotional states or uncertainties strengthens courage and consistent authenticity [4]. Taking action regardless of feelings is a powerful tool for promoting mental health and well-being.
Speaking out against injustice fosters emotional processing, builds self-awareness, strengthens relationships, helps develop coping mechanisms, and contributes to a more open and supportive society [5]. This act promotes moral and ethical awareness, encouraging embracing ambiguity and re-evaluating values and purpose, crucial for authentic leadership and living.
Adopting habits that promote authenticity brings significant benefits such as increased self-awareness, personal growth, courage, stronger relationships, and moral clarity. These habits include regular self-reflection and journaling, living off-screen, asking life-improving questions, and speaking out against injustice [6].
In sum, these habits build a foundation for living with integrity, courage, and deeper connection to self and others, essential components of an authentic life. They transform not only personal well-being but also leadership and communal relationships through increased honesty, ethical awareness, and emotional intelligence [7].
[1] Research suggests that constant bombardment with choices can deplete mental energy and lead to poorer choices. [2] Regularly pruning one's life can lead to a life that is biased towards action and doing things. [3] Verbalizing challenges and emotions is a powerful tool for promoting mental health and well-being (Source: One study). [4] Asking soul-quenching questions that keep us on the right track can help in finding solutions to pressing challenges (implied). [5] A life in motion tends to lead to improved feelings and more favorable outcomes. [6] Adopting habits that appreciate life, such as pruning, can lead to genuine appreciation of life in one's 70s. [7] Research indicates that these habits transform not only personal well-being but also leadership and communal relationships through increased honesty, ethical awareness, and emotional intelligence (Sources: 1, 3, 4, 5).
- Incorporating activities like reading stories, bird-watching, or people-watching into our daily routines can help foster creative insights, improve mental health, and aid in counteracting the negative effects of social media on our well-being.
- Simplifying our lives by reducing options, pruning business engagements, relationships, and bad habits can lead to improved overall well-being, less stress, increased effectiveness, and a life biased towards action.
- Regularly pruning our lives and verbalizing our challenges and emotions can help in finding solutions to pressing challenges and promote mental health and well-being, as per studies.
- Asking soul-quenching questions that keep us on the right track can aid in finding solutions to pressing challenges, foster emotional processing, build self-awareness, strengthen relationships, help develop coping mechanisms, and contribute to a more open and supportive society.
