21. Living with Authenticity and Integrity

In this episode, I use Dr. Bill Plotkin's book Soulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche to talk about the importance of living an authentic self with integrity in academia. Bill has a PhD in psychology from the University of Colorado--Boulder but now is the founder of Animas Valley Institute in Southwest Colorado. I have found his book helpful at uncovering the layers of my own psyche, so I want to share some of his wisdom with you.  Many of us feel like we cannot be authentic in academia because of the pressures of social acceptance--the pressure to be well-liked, to get funding, to get optimal teaching times, to sail through annual evaluations, etc. However, if we want to live in alignment with our true selves, we must find ways to be authentic within our programs, departments, and classes. I share some of my own experiences grappling with authenticity and end the episode with recommendations you may want to try in your home institutions.  As always, I would love to connect with you on LinkedIn and welcome your topic ideas. Happy listening!