What is meant by "Authenticity"?: Gabor Maté?

Authenticity means being true to yourself, just like your favorite toy is always the same no matter what game you play with it.

Imagine you have a teddy bear that you love. Every day, you take it everywhere, to school, to the park, even to bed. No matter where you go, your teddy bear stays you. That’s authenticity, being yourself in every situation, without pretending to be someone else.

Think of a friend who always tells the truth, even when it's hard. They don’t fake smiles or say "I’m fine" when they’re really sad. That friend is being authentic because they show their real feelings, just like your teddy bear shows you its soft fur and favorite button.

Gabor Maté talks about authenticity a lot, he says it’s important to be who you really are, not just what people expect you to be. Like how your teddy bear doesn’t change, even when the world around you does.