September 30th, 2026
In a world of frequently being unable to tell what is AI and what isn’t - being able to share real life moments with another human, seems key.
Authenticity - What is it? Why is it important?
Simply defined, authenticity means the quality of being real, genuine, valid, or true to an original source or ones character. In a personal light, it means showing all of the colors, or at least when you choose to show colors, making sure they are truly yours, and not a mask. I believe that it is so important to be as authentic as possible in every aspect of your life, as this is how we make connections with the world around us and stay connected with ourselves.
I don’t think to be authentic you need to have your emotions on blast for the world 24/7, but I do think that whatever emotion you choose to show SHOULD be exactly how you feel.
I think especially in the age of social media when we are all so “connected” and its hard to tell what’s real or fake, and when people tend to hide their slow days, bad outfits, and sour moods - its important to be willing to show the good as well as the bad. Whether we like it or not, we are all influencing someone - and to show someone only the good isn’t an accurate representation of life, and could be damaging to not only ourselves but those around us who happen to tune in.
I read something recently about finances that really stuck with me: on social media, everyone seems to be doing so well financially. Meanwhile, plenty of people are living above their means, going into debt, or quietly struggling. And that can make someone who is financially strapped feel like they’re doing something wrong, when in reality... this economy is insane, and a lot of us are feeling it. And while I agree with the idea that people should get off the internet, and live, I also understand that as someone who is choosing to create content, I have taken on a bit of responsibility, and therefore don’t want to contribute to the mass idea that I have everything together when I absolutely DO NOT.
I do say all of this knowing that there are boundaries. Some things I don’t want to share, and some things simply aren’t mine to share. Authenticity doesn’t mean giving the internet unlimited access to your life. It means that when you do choose to open the door, what’s on the other side is real.
As I stated in my last poem, “all the things I have forgotten (maybe part 1)”, I think being able to show your true thoughts and feelings, despite the possible backlash is a mark of authenticity, and an important thing to do. Being able to say that you’re a little scared of fall because it’s the start of prepping for the quiet months... kind of authentic, no? Being willing to post or discuss the good and the bad, kind of chic, no? Holding true to an idea, style, or belief even when it goes against the norm, provided it doesn’t harm yourself, others, or animals? Chef’s kiss, no?
So let’s take it out of the hypothetical -
I would like to smoke a cigarette.
Is that too real?
I’m not sorry.
I have honestly LOVED all of the current “coffee and cigarette as the original Ozempic” content. All of the “a Camel Crush would save me” content. All of the “this healthy thing and a cigarette” content. It’s just so good. AND. SO. REAL.
Do you know that when Camel Crush cigarettes first came out, I literally waited all night, like those people who wait all day and night for concert tickets or Black Friday sales? HAHA.
I was with my ex, and we stayed up all night parked at my local Walgreens in Palm Bay, Florida, waiting for the truck to arrive and stock them. As soon as they hit the shelves, we ran in, grabbed a pack, ran outside, popped the fancy crush thingy, and ENJOOOYYYEEEDDDD.
Yea. Good times.
Throughout the years, I’ve gone on and off cigarettes and vapes. None of it is great for you. If you’ve never smoked, don’t start. But during times of high stress, nicotine has brought me immense, albeit temporary, relief. And that’s real. Genuine.
Hi, my name is Rachel Hope, and I do have a slight nicotine addiction.
Whoopsie. Now I lost half my client base.
…Or did I?
When authenticity meets business, though, it becomes another beast, because it’s one thing to put your messy, weird, imperfect self on the internet. It’s another thing to do that while simultaneously asking people to trust you enough to buy something from you.
It’s hard to put yourself out there as 100% real AND be a whole brand. It is truly scary to be trying to start a business while staying true to yourself, all on a single platform. I guess I could go the route where I have a “Just Me” platform for my writing and every day life and a “Zen Me” platform for my business/yoga offerings - but honestly that seems like so much work, and as Ive found out, sometimes I don’t have the capacity to even keep up with ONE account, I cannot even imagine two! More importantly - it doesn’t feel entirely truthful…
I’m the same person whether you are reading my writing, or taking my yoga class . The same human with the same thoughts, same weirdness, same doubts, same joy, same nicotine addiction, underneath it all.
So separating myself into two parts doesn’t seem very authentic.
You get the whole me, or nada.
Last week I had a friend come over to talk business. Initially we were going to do a few videos I could post on Social Media to promote my yoga offerings, but instead we ended up discussing authenticity and the internet in this day and age, and where to go from there in the sense of Brand Development. It’s not that I didn’t want to post the videos, I had a few ideas - they just didn’t seem authentic. They seemed a little too zen, and a little not where i’ve been at lately with my own practice. And if I can post poetry that makes me blush or cringe then I can take a few extra moments to be really authentic about what I’m posting to promote my yoga offerings. So we came up with a plan for me to just get comfortable putting my face out there on the internet. and that is where I realized that authenticity and putting yourself out there online, can be hard, ESPECIALLY when you are at the same time trying to offer or sell something.
Something about - “Here is me. Now also please buy what I am selling,” just hits differently. Not necessarily in a bad way, but surely different.
Finding ways to talk in an online blog space where I feel like the words I am saying are not preachy, but thoughtful and more personal, and not even advice but just musings, is a difficult thing at times. Sometimes I worry that this should feel like a journal. Or maybe a poetry dump. Or maybe, occasionally, a collection of little selling points. All of those thoughts compile in my head, followed immediately by:
WHY AM I EVEN DOING THIS?!?!
See? Human. Scared shitless, excited, unsure, authentic, human.
Anyways….this post has been a work of love, editing, fear, and basically every other emotion, and I think it all comes down to this:
I hope you see that just like you, I am just another person trying to be exactly who they were meant to be in this world.
I hope you read my blog and words because they make you smile, or thoughtful, or breathe a little easier.
and, I hope you hire me to grow your yoga practice because from the socials, words, and all the real-life-rachel that you see, you think you and I would be a pretty great fit :).
Of course thank you for reading this. Talk soon.
Love,
Rachel Hope
Photos of the week(s): Getting ready in front of the mirror (always), My vintage LV that I LOVE, Yoga before the yoga, Spam Fried Rice, Dog kisses, Spilt Coffee, Trying to pack for vacation, Late night photo ops, My husband “watching TV” with the pups, New phone and hiding the belly, Early morning eye-bag removal, A perfect Purple Haze Beer at a perfect date-day-lunch.