The inauthentic life can be a way of protecting us from the terrors of reality; the materialistic values of Western society divert our attention away from the awful anxiety provoking truths of our lives; however, authentic people do not shy away from the realities of life. They are open to the hard truths:

• One day we will all die. That day might be today or tomorrow.
• We cannot control the world around us and we are helpless in the face of the unavoidable unpredictable things that will happen to us.
• We have to make decisions in life; we are responsible for the choices we make and we have to live with the consequences.
• There is no meaning or purpose to our lives except that which we choose to give it.
• Ultimately we are alone.

The authentic person lives life moment by moment, striving to understand themselves, their motivations, defences and conditions of worth, while being aware of their responsibilities and choices.