Being inauthentic is operating from a place of "shoulds" - a place where you are reacting from your old programming - the messages that are inherited from others or society. 

Authenticity is operating from a more interior space - a place where I am in tune with my body's responses to situations - my perspective - not everyone's else's or an internalized "proper'or "correct" perspective but my perspective on a felt level - not an intellectualized, over-processed place. 

What do others think?  

There is a GAIAM ad at the top of my screen that says "Explore the realm of your authentic self"

This is puzzling to me. 

Can I be anything but my authentic self? Isn't that just thoroughly who I am with all my contradictions: my light and bright self and my shadow self circling around each other in endless combinations of who I am, have been, and hope to be? Is it really possible to be inauthentic?  

Being so fearful lately feels like inauthenticity I guess. A holding back, a not living fully. But on the other hand, it is pretty authentically me - chicken-s**t. I guess it is comforting to think that the parts of ourselves that we are not proud of are not "authentic" but I'm in the spirit right now to be accepting of those parts of myself. Trying to make friends with my inner wuss while engaging it in challenges instead of ignoring it. That way, I will become braver while befriending my shadow and not by neglecting it.