We’re all born beautiful and unique. Unfortunately, many of us are convinced of the opposite. In fact, for some reason most people believe they’re not enough.

However, genuine people know everyone is different. They know real beauty resides in unicity and are not interested in chasing perfection. They don’t worry about what others might think.

If we take a closer look at genuine people, we’ll see they tend to have in common the following traits, which also make them special.

Genuine People Are Selfless

Being selfless doesn’t mean you don’t care at all about your own happiness. It simply means you tend to care more about others than yourself, and you’re able to be happy for them even when they have more than you. It means you’re an amazing person.

Genuine people help others because they truly want to, not because they want to obtain something or expect something in return.

According to an article published in Psychology Today,

Human nature is seen as essentially social and constructive, so the more authentic we are, by definition we will be more compassionate, accepting and altruistic. Authenticity will not lead to selfishness but rather the opposite, as we become more caring and giving.

How to apply this, in a nutshell:

• Learn to do things out of kindness; don’t expect anything in return.

Genuine People Are Not Afraid of Being Vulnerable

Showing your vulnerable side is scary, I get it. For some people it’s terrifying. However, showing someone who you truly are is the only way to build a true, meaningful relationship with them.

Most of us mistake vulnerability for weakness, however, the opposite is true. Not being afraid of sharing your vulnerable side is a sign of strength, because, as Emma Seppälä Ph.D. explains, it implies the courage to be yourself, and it involves emotional exposure.

How to apply this, in a nutshell:

• Let go of the idea you have to be strong or good enough to earn other people’s approval. If you think about that, the more authentic and vulnerable someone is in front of us, the more we appreciate them, because we feel closer to them.

They Are Emotionally Mature

As Stephen Joseph Ph.D. explains in an interesting article published in Psychology Today, “authenticity is not a free for all, in which anything goes, but a way of being that is defined by emotional and psychological maturity.”

In a study he conducted with Ornella Tohme and published in the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, they investigated how authenticity is correlated with emotional intelligence.

They found that those who scored higher on their test for authenticity tended to be more mindful and emotionally mature. For example, they were better at observing their own emotions, and more able to accept themselves.

How to apply this, in a nutshell:

• According to Joseph and Tohme, mindfulness and emotional intelligence are inherent properties of authenticity. Also, they believe this is a two-way relationship: by practicing the skills of mindfulness, and learning about emotional intelligence, you may also give yourself the tools you need to become more authentic.

They Are True to Their Word

Genuine people say what they mean and mean what they say.

So when they say they’re going to do something, they always follow through. And if they don’t intend to do something, they won’t make a promise they know they can’t keep. Also, as I explained in another article, authentic people always say the truth, even when it may hurt.

See, when you consistently keep your word and say the truth, people will see strength, and you’ll start to earn their trust and consequently their respect.

How to apply this, in a nutshell:

• Simple. Say what you mean and mean what you say. This is the only way you can build trust in the long term.

Featured Photo by Kirill Balobanov on Unsplash