If you look at the most successful people in the world, they all have one thing in common.

Those who are at the top of their game are all staying true to who they are at a foundational level, and this commitment to authenticity is the differentiating factor that has guided them to their elite status as successful human beings.

And it doesn’t matter if your version of success means having a ton of money, revolutionizing an entire industry, or creating a massive social impact that changes lives. Those who refuse to abandon their values and visions are the ones who are making the most progress and generating the most good for themselves and the world.

So if you are finding your personal or professional development starting to stall, perhaps it’s time to inject a healthy dose of authenticity into your journey to create the energy and clarity you need to grow into the most successful version of yourself.

Here’s how.

More Energy to Be You

Have you ever had to endure a conversation with someone you really didn’ t like?

What about pretending to care about something that you actually thought was meaningless?

Or worse yet, have you ever had to act one way on the outside while feeling the complete opposite on the inside?

If you have, I think you’ll agree that there is nothing more exhausting than having to pretend to be something you’re not.

In fact, experts agree that suppressing your true self—your thoughts, personality, and values—can lead to harmful amounts of, ‘stress, burnout, and other physical health consequences.’

On the flip side, when you are living, speaking and acting in accordance with your personality and values, life is a lot more seamless. You have more energy and ambition to pursue your goals because they are representative of the real you.

There’s a reason that Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, known for being unrelentingly authentic, are also renowned for being two of the most energetic leaders of all time. They were fueled by being their true selves and were not drained by trying to fit into an unnatural mold.

So if you need a well-timed energy boost to increase your productivity and impact, make sure you are intentionally staying true to your values and vision.

Clarity Is Key

Like I mentioned, pretending to be something you’re not is exhausting.

But what’s even more draining than feeling like a phony is mauling over a decision for hours, lingering in the zone of ‘maybe’, unable to commit one way or the other.

Researchers refer to it as ‘decision fatigue’, and this inability to make a choice heavily impacts your well-being because it depletes your brain of the energy it needs to function at a high level.

The beauty of authenticity is that it directly counteracts these effects.

If you are crystal clear on your values and are committed to acting as your real self, then decision making becomes much more black and white.

If something violates your fundamental beliefs, then you can confidently make a choice and waste no more energy incessantly weighing the pros and cons.

If something is in direct alignment with who you are and what you stand for, then you can quickly say yes and move forward, generating powerful momentum.

When you are crystal clear on your values and your authentic expression of yourself, you reclaim all of the time and energy that used to fall victim to decision fatigue, and you can turn it into fuel for your growth and progress.

Persistence or Bust

Getting clear on your values is a crucial step in propelling yourself to new levels of success, but the ability to remain grounded in those values while you experience the ups and downs of life is just as essential.

Arianna Huffington sites that holding fast to her True North—your authentic set of standards and values—is the key contributor to her current success.

She credits her growth with the Huffington Post largely to the fact that she was able to act true to her values not only when things were hard, but also when things were going really well.

She did not let herself get swayed away from her foundational mission, which is why she has continued to achieve such fulfilling levels of success on a consistent basis.

So if you are finding that the unpredictable nature of achieving success is taking its toll on you, ground yourself in your authenticity and trust that your quest for an authentic version of happiness will show up when you prevail.

Putting It All Together

A passionate commitment to authenticity has the potential to ignite profound levels of growth as you move toward your goals.

You will have more energy to pursue what is important to you.

You will be able to make powerful decisions with precision and confidence.

And you will be able to steady yourself as you navigate the uncharted waters of growth and development.

Make a commitment to honor your values and your visions as you progress so that you can achieve your version of success in a way that actually feels good to who you are.Opinions expressed here are the opinions of the author. Influencive does not endorse or review brands mentioned; does not and can not investigate relationships with brands, products, and people mentioned and is up to the author to disclose. VIP Contributors and Contributors, amongst other accounts and articles, are professional fee-based.