Authenticity vs. Image: Why Living True to Yourself Leads to a Meaningful Life

An authentic product is something that exists in its own right — spontaneous, original, not a copy, and not dependent on what already exists. Likewise, an authentic action is one that emerges from within a person, from the depths of their being, rather than being shaped by social approval or imitation.

An authentic person is someone who knows themselves deeply and acts in alignment with their true qualities, beliefs, and desires. The opposite is a person who acts primarily to construct a certain image in the eyes of others.

Living Behind a Mask

Throughout history, human authenticity has been severely compromised. Interestingly, one possible origin of the English word person comes from the ancient Greek persona — the masks worn by actors in theater. This suggests that the very definition of “a person” has, over time, shifted into something performative: what others perceive, rather than who someone truly is.

An actor on stage puts on a mask, hides their real identity, and plays a role for one purpose only — to show the audience a character. However, that character is not who the actor truly is.

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself how authentic you are?

A Simple Exercise

Think about the clothes you wear, the people you spend time with, the university you attended or attend, your leisure activities, and your everyday choices. Now ask yourself: What motivates me to do these things?

It’s not always easy to identify our motivations, but it’s an ideal worth striving for. We must ask ourselves honestly: Are we living for ourselves, or for others? Are we building an image, or fulfilling our life’s purpose?

As we’ve already seen, the intention behind an action determines its quality, and therefore a person’s spiritual level. Yet in our time, concern for image more than anything else distorts our intentions.

A Culture Obsessed with Appearance

Today, external appearance is often the primary motivator. Advertising agencies invest far more in images than in substance, because visual stimuli bypass the intellect and speak directly to emotion. This makes people buy impulsively, without real need.

Images convey very little real information. The eye can perceive physical reality, but it cannot see thought or speech. A person who lives by image alone is likely living a shallow life.

Most people don’t even notice this. They choose prestigious courses and universities so their résumé will look impressive. Yet a résumé rarely reflects who a person truly is, or even how capable they are. A person may collect certificates without having grown at all, if their goal was status rather than development.

More broadly, people marry, have children, work, and even choose their drinks according to the image they want to project. In such a world, a person’s essence becomes what is visible on the outside, and a distortion that can amount to a profound falsehood.

Image Takes Many Forms

This problem isn’t limited to chasing beauty, wealth, or popularity. It applies to any effort made primarily so that society will see us in a certain light. Someone may want to appear humble, charismatic, rebellious, professional, artistic, or even religious.

Our true essence is internal, not external. It consists of our thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and actions. It does not depend on whether others know about our deeds or approve of them.

Some people become so invested in projecting a certain image that they try to change their very essence. And yet, all they succeed in doing is forcing themselves to become someone they are not.

Consider a teenager who admires a rock star and begins to imitate everything about them — the clothes, the speech, and the lifestyle. Slowly, they drift away from their authentic self and toward a fabricated identity.

Turning the Process Around

The correct approach is the opposite: instead of shaping our essence to match a desired image, we should allow our outward appearance to naturally reflect who we truly are, without effort.

We should work on our inner personality. When we live with joy, love, and a sincere desire to discover and fulfill our purpose, we naturally project a positive image — not to promote ourselves, but to inspire others.

There is nothing wrong with dressing well, behaving politely, or holding a respectable job, as long as these express who we genuinely are.

Authenticity Reveals the Good Within

At its core, a Jew’s essence is good. When someone acts authentically, their actions will naturally be good as well. If they aren’t, it’s a sign that something is stifling their true self.

Each of us carries an inner light. When we live inauthentically, it’s as if a screen covers that light, preventing us from shining and illuminating others.

Often, we feel frustrated because we know we have talents that others don’t recognize, because we do good things that go unnoticed, or because our efforts aren’t appreciated. In truth, these are reasons to rejoice. There is nothing more authentic than a quality or deed known only to ourselves and to God. Such actions are pure, and free of hidden agendas.

A person who donates money and has their name displayed on a plaque risks having their act interpreted as self-serving. But when no one knows about the donation, the person can be certain the act was truly authentic.

The Key: A Relationship with God

To live authentically, we must maintain a constant relationship with God. Every human being needs to feel seen and acknowledged. Without that, we seek validation from society.

Someone who doesn’t feel God’s presence will inevitably turn to social approval instead. This is a fundamental mistake. Those who only seek God’s approval, not only live more authentically, but also enjoy healthier self-esteem. God evaluates us based on effort and context, while society judges only results.

In a classroom, for example, a student who works hard but receives a low grade is often dismissed or criticized. God, however, sees the obstacles such as lack of time, family struggles, learning difficulties, or even a simple lapse in concentration.

Seeing Beneath the Surface

Authenticity also requires learning to see the world deeply, rather than superficially. People are not clothing or labels, but each person has a unique inner essence.

Jewish society itself offers a powerful lesson. Today, Jews are often categorized as religious, ultra-Orthodox, secular, traditional, and so on. These labels are about image, not essence.

The Jewish people share two defining traits:

1. At their ideal state, they are deeply united.

2. At the same time, each individual is entirely unique, unable to fully conform to any rigid category.

When people ask me, “Which stream do you belong to?” I simply give them my name. I belong to no stream. In some ways I resemble one group, and in other ways another. If we divided Jews by opinions alone, we would end up with as many groups as there are people, as no two Jews are identical.

Judging someone by their clothing or labeling them “religious” or “not religious” is misguided. The term “religious” itself is not a Jewish concept and says nothing about a person’s true quality.

Many who appear non-religious are great creators and contributors to society, performing acts of kindness no one ever hears about. Conversely, some who appear religious may be deeply disconnected from God and engage in harmful behavior.

Authenticity lies beneath the surface. It is quiet, unseen, and profoundly real.