Our system of language leaves so much to interpretation, after all, if sincere is identical to honest, then sincere means holding back on your personal opinion as to not hurt other peoples feelings. As a society we have decided that honesty is not what we truly want from strangers when we meet in the street.

The truth is not something most people talk about face to face, no one expects ‘the truth’ at a business, even when we ask people how they are we don’t really expect ‘the truth’ do we? We want to sound like we are concerned, and we do care on an abstract level, but that’s the difference between being sincere and the truth.

We expect sincerity from society, from the server being polite at the restaurant to the clerk at the store not frowning at you for buying things that are ‘bad’ for you.

I really love this post, for very personal reasons. Ever since reading “Something More – Excavating Your Authentic Self” about 6-7 years ago, the lions share of my personal work has had to do with being Authentic. Authencity, to me, is about being True to the Essence of who I am…not who I think someone else wants me to be – not who I was raised to think I should be – not even who I think GOD wants me to be (although I really like Her true thoughts about me! LOL)

I think that I must take a different viewpoint on the word “sincere”, however. To me, sincerity is about HONESTY and TRUTHFULNESS. When I am being sincere, it means that nothing fake or effected is going on…I truly mean what I am say or doing, in moments of ‘sincerity’.

But I liked seeing this from a fresh perspective thanks for that!

Graces last blog post..As It Is In Heaven

Sincere is catering to the wishes of your audience, sometimes we do art that we know will be appreciated but authenticity requires you use a personal standard of excellence.

You can see a more subtle version in the Sistine chapel too, at first Michelangelo wanted to complete the assignment more than make a statement, and the ceiling, while one of most amazing things ever in the history of art, is sincere but patchy in ‘quality’.

The Sistine chapel ceiling is like a bootleg greatest hits cd where the good and semi-good are lumped together, you tend to skip over the parts you don’t enjoy as much. But the Last Judgment, painted several years later on the back wall, is a cohesive statement, it shows the passion, it was not painted to show off his talent or to please the pope, it was painted to get the feelings out of him, he, and God were the audience – that’s authentic!

I caught up on your posts and enjoyed each one!

When I first started my blog someone left a comment encouraging me to continue. Here is a little snippet of what they said:
“I like that you are authentic, radically authentic to be more accurate”

At first, I didn’t know how to take it, but now I like it. Authentic is a good thing…eh? I see authenticity in you!

gypsy-hearts last blog post..Expand and Live!

I struggle with these issues all the time.

You’re right. We need the freedom to fail. I have failed, though, and it affects my self esteem. Society tells us that we must always be successful. But who defines success?

Maybe the mark of a successful person is one who cares enough about others. And to care for others you at first need to care for yourself.

Hey, thanks again for this. Great post.

Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Writing the Wild Within: Part 4 – Standing Out From the Crowd