Danielle A. Vann, a cognitive behavioral therapist, takes you on a journey to discovering your authentic self through three behavior or thought hacks.

Are you authentic? That’s a big question. Most people automatically answer 'yes' while internally questioning whether that's factual.

If I asked you to define what authenticity means, what would you say?

Common answers are being truthful, trustworthy, open with your emotions, genuine, and not hiding who you are.

Each of these elements is a piece of living authentically, but what does it actually mean to be authentic?

The most straightforward answer is to allow yourself to be seen, heard, and witnessed and to use your voice in the fullest expression without the need to hide, wear a mask, or make yourself small for others’ comfort.

Authenticity means having a keen awareness of who you are and what you stand for and understanding the values and beliefs you hold.

What takes us out of our authentic selves? Fear, others' opinions, rejection, trauma, limiting beliefs, negativity, failure, and anything we attach to that doesn't help us.