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By M. Kenneth Petruzzi, on July 14th, 2011% 
What does authenticity mean to you? Your beliefs and attitudes about the concept of authenticity may have a significant impact on the creation and co-creation of your relationships with others. Recently, a Psychology Today blog by Vivian Diller got me to thinking about this subject to even greater depths than I had before. The result? My current thinking goes something like this:
There are three aspects to authenticity.
The first requirement is that my desires have some connection with WHO I am. I wouldn’t get cosmetic surgery for fear of not meeting some consensus standard, or to impress according to some cosmetic standard (though for SOME cosmetic surgery IS an authentic action). I won’t buy a certain brand because others revere it. For me, the aforementioned choices would mean compliance, and compliance is hardly ever my first choice. I am not judging a different approach, but I am saying that for me, that kind of choice wouldn’t fit my idea of a real me. My approach to authenticity requires that the majority of my desires about how I represent myself . . . → Read More: What does Authenticity Mean to You?
By M. Kenneth Petruzzi, on March 30th, 2011% 
Well, there is nothing wrong with positive thinking, itself. The real issue lies with the absurd misconceptions some folks have (and lately quite a few bloggers) about what practicing a positive outlook means. These in turn lead to failed implementations, and blow-back, and more downer blogs on positive thinking.
True positivity has nothing to do with covering over negativity. It has nothing to do with ignoring relationship difficulties or employee issues to achieve a false harmony. It has nothing to do with pasting affirmations over disturbing thoughts or memories (which can do more harm than good). It has nothing to do with suppressing anger or other “non-evolved” (what a joke) emotions that are a natural part of the most evolved person and which can prove quite helpful when recognized for what they are and used appropriately.
Positive thinking is about acknowledging and understanding what we experience as negative, and then choosing a focus that brings our perception to the value in any situation. Whether what troubles us is a perceived flaw in ourselves, or behavior of another, or . . . → Read More: What’s the Problem with Positive Thinking?
By M. Kenneth Petruzzi, on November 3rd, 2010% What do you think of when you consider your right to vote? Winners and losers? Putting your candidate in there to further your agenda or preserve the status quo? Sending a message to your leaders regarding the change you’re looking for? With the recent election, I’ve had a chance to consider these questions and more, and talk them over with friends and relatives. After doing so, I submit the following: . . . → Read More: Considering the Right to Vote
By M. Kenneth Petruzzi, on October 12th, 2010% To fully grok the concept of self-value, it helps to believe that each person has a soul, and that each soul has value beyond what is physical. It’s difficult to make the point for a person’s inherent value, if I choose to believe a human being is just an electrified bag of chemicals walking around comparing his or her value to those around them based on looks, action, relationship, ownership, etc. That out of the way, let’s move on to make what I hope is a helpful distinction between “Self-Esteem” and “Self-Value.” Some folks will tell you that self-esteem is what you think of yourself, and self-value is what you’re born with. From where I stand, that’s partially right. . . . → Read More: Self-Esteem vs. Self-Value
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