\u201cI have recommended the technique of \u201cacting as if\u201d\u037e that is, of\u00a0acting as if a psychological attitude existed in us, instead of the contrary one. Some\u00a0are shocked at the use of this method because they consider it hypocritical\u037e they\u00a0say in effect: i \u201cIf I am angry and harbor resentment against someone, for whatever reason, good or bad, and if I treat him with kindness and smiles, I am not being\u00a0authentic\u2014true to myself.\u201d But in reality it is not a question of hypocrisy.<\/p>\n
This is\u00a0due to the psychological multiplicity that exists in each of us. \u201cActing as if\u201d would\u00a0be hypocritical if we did so with the purpose of deceiving others for selfish ends, or\u00a0if we deceived ourselves into believing that our lower motives do not exist. But if,\u00a0when an impulse or motive of hostility and resentment against someone arises in\u00a0us, we, our true, our genuine self, do not approve of it and refuse to identify with it,\u00a0then our real will is to choose the better motive and to act benevolently in spite of\u00a0the impulse that Urges us to treat the person badly. We can choose the motive to\u00a0which we give free course.\u201d\u00a0\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cAuthenticity does not consist in giving in to a bad motive simply because it exists. Considered in this light, to behave in a benevolent manner even though one feels an impulse of anger can be the highest form of sincerity, for it corresponds to what we would wish to be completely, <\/em>and already are partially. <\/em>Such a recognition eliminates the misunderstanding about authenticity. Many, in fact, behave badly and excuse themselves on the score of being authentic. But this is often the<\/p>\n authenticity of the cave man. The method of “acting as if” we possessed the<\/p>\n desired feelings is neither sham nor hypocrisy. It is an effective way of becoming more and more what we wish we could be continuously. We are, <\/em>essentially and genuinely, what we will to<\/em><\/p>\n be, <\/em>even if we often fail to manifest it.\u201d<\/p>\n