If you are your authentic-self and people criticize you, it is likely that they are inauthentic inside. It is likely that they are being something they are not. When an inauthentic person experiences an authentic person, it is threatening. It is scary. And the defense is criticism.

Authentic people are famous for their constant encouragement. Authentic people revel in authenticity. They love being authentic. The love seeing others be authentic. They support everyone regardless of where those people are in discovering their own authentic selves.

If you are being your authentic-self, criticism will rain down on you. That’s ok – you’re helping others find their own authentic-self, as painful as that may be for them. Keep offering encouragement. Keep being who you are.