It’s a very powerful and delicate space to be in when you become aware of the enormous efforts behind everyone who has been a part of your life and how they have given you their best even when doing through their darkest times. On the one hand, the mind is always quick to judge and demand, asking for more and better – always on its terms. When the heart begins to have more space, an overwhelming sense of gratitude embodies you. You can see, for the first time, things you weren’t able to see before.

With this, being aware becomes essential. If unaware, you will express gratitude and honor another from your own experience, usually being self-involved and acting out of guilt. Guilt for not being able to see before, to have judged, for so many things. And the guilt becomes the driving force behind expressing gratitude and honoring. When you can see the other and inquire what the other needs or wants, you can show up with humbleness and the willingness to love.

As human beings, we support each other, especially those in our communities. It’s easy for you to connect with the other and what they are going through, at least through your lens. This usually implies that the mind-ego has a stronghold and perception of the situation and how to solve it.

To support someone suffering or in pain, the most important thing is to be aware of all the ideas, beliefs, solutions, strategies, and labels that emerge within you when you are with the other. These are mind-ego strategies to organize and solve the perceived situation, but none allow you to see what the other is going through or experience what arises in you.

Most of the solution base, advice given, or assessment arise from the mind-ego as a way to protect itself from pain. It’s a preventative measure that creates distance, and the possibility of being present dissolves. Being aware of this means seeing what arises within you; witnessing this means that you are not focused on solving, dismissing, or whatever the mind-ego naturally does, but that you are willing to feel, to experience this with the other and allow higher consciousness to be present in this silent embrace of what is there.

Authenticity starts when you can be truthful about what is inside of you. The mind-ego is always filled with masks and personalities to cover for perceived faults, negative traits, or weaknesses. It’s a denial to yourselves about your reality, moment to moment. On the other hand, authenticity is a return to your wholeness, embracing every aspect of your present nature.

It’s essential to know that authenticity does not imply reactiveness or carelessness. It’s actually a compassionate way of being since you are able to see what is inside of you—really see it deeply, being aware of all the pieces that feel painful or broken, that carry fear or resentment, and so many other things. When you see this, you can experience compassion towards yourself and others.

In reality, being authentic is about being quite natural, at ease, present, and able to experience fully what is happening within you and around you.