We are born into certain ready-made arguments, but life throws curve-balls at us. If we are wise, we learn to modify those arguments in the light of our suffering.

We are born into certain ready-made arguments, but life throws curve-balls at us. If we are wise, we learn to modify those arguments in the light of our suffering.
To be authentic, we may need to expose ourselves to rejection and unwelcome attention.
There are great relational advantages in signalling to others our values, intentions and identity. Not least, it helps us to enlist support and make space for ourselves.
Being authentic requires skill. We are like carpenters. Our inner values and feelings are our raw materials, but we need to use the tools of wisdom to produce the useful furniture of our behaviour.
To stay mentally healthy, we may need to review our inner values, and check we are living consistently with them.