How do you act when you’re not thinking about how you act? When no one is looking and when you’re just doing what you’re doing…
That’s the automatic self. No narrative, no second-guessing.
Now, here’s the real question:
Has your automatic self changed since you were a kid?
If it has (and I hope it has) then that’s all the proof we need that the automatic self isn’t a given, it’s not hard-wired and it’s not permanent.
In fact, it changes from practice. It’s a skill.
We can learn to be the ‘authentic’ version of ourselves that we’d like to live with.
It takes habits, learning and feedback. And the commitment to become a better version of ourselves.