--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I grow older, I feel like my authentic…" description: "\"As I grow older, I feel like my authentic self has been able to shine through more and more, and people can see that.\" — Vanessa Williams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/vanessa-williams-22976_authentic_as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic_769242.jpg" --- # As I grow older, I feel like my authentic self has been… ![“As I grow older, I feel like my authentic self has been able to shine through more and more, and people can see that.” quote by Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/vanessa-williams-22976_authentic_as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic_769242.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/vanessa-williams-22976_authentic_as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic_769242.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/vanessa-williams-22976_authentic_as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic_769242.jpg) > “As I grow older, I feel like my authentic self has been able to shine through more and more, and people can see that.” [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. With age, the authentic self becomes clearer, allowing others to recognize genuine confidence and self‑acceptance. **In simple terms:** Aging reveals true self; others notice. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity as you age. Themes self‑acceptance confidence aging Mood empowering reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career - public speaking - personal relationships Key Concepts personal development psychology Questions to Reflect On - What steps help you stay true to yourself? - How does confidence affect how others perceive you? A Different Perspective Authenticity can be hindered by external expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authentic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic/) [Authentic self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic-self/) [Authenticity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authenticity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [Everybody knows with rap artists, if you can't go to the hood, it's almost like you're not authentic, even if you're a dope artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-premier/everybody-knows-with-rap-artists-if-you-can-t-go-to-the-hood-it-s/) [DJ Premier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-premier/) > [I like it when characters respond to things that are outrageous and movie-like in an authentic way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goldman/i-like-it-when-characters-respond-to-things-that-are-outrageous-and/) [Jane Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goldman/) > [“For a passion that's Able to shine like ours Blessed are we to Love Each other”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-murphy/for-a-passion-that-s-able-to-shine-like-ours-blessed-are-we-to-love/) [Monica Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-murphy/) > [I think BTS is able to shine because we have fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suga/i-think-bts-is-able-to-shine-because-we-have-fans/) [Suga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suga/) > [“To be able to shine brightly, ones light must first fade.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-anne-mccartney/to-be-able-to-shine-brightly-ones-light-must-first-fade/) [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) > [For me, it's all about making a song that communicates something to a big crowd, but you still feel like it's authentic to who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo/for-me-it-s-all-about-making-a-song-that-communicates-something-to-a/) MO > [I like the authentic object, and I have no problem paying sixty dollars for a T-shirt if it fits me really well and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/i-like-the-authentic-object-and-i-have-no-problem-paying-sixty/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [What's it like to figure out you're gay and then begin the process of coming out? Well, for most of my life, I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/what-s-it-like-to-figure-out-you-re-gay-and-then-begin-the-process-of/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [I've always tried to stay true to my authentic self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/i-ve-always-tried-to-stay-true-to-my-authentic-self/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [“She's an old soul with young eyes, a vintage heart, and a beautiful mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-lyons/she-s-an-old-soul-with-young-eyes-a-vintage-heart-and-a-beautiful-mind/) [Nicole Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-lyons/) > [Passion will always move you in the direction of your authentic self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/passion-will-always-move-you-in-the-direction-of-your-authentic-self/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Love trumps hate in many ways, in every way, and you can be your authentic self. If you put your mind to it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gigi-gorgeous/love-trumps-hate-in-many-ways-in-every-way-and-you-can-be-your/) [Gigi Gorgeous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gigi-gorgeous/) > [Bring the best of your Authentic Self to every opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jantsch/bring-the-best-of-your-authentic-self-to-every-opportunity/) [John Jantsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jantsch/) > [I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I've become. If I had, I'd have done it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-had-no-idea-that-being-your-authentic-self-could-make-me-as-rich-as/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“The biggest mistake people make when trying to be authentic is just that: they try. They see these role models of what an "authentic"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/the-biggest-mistake-people-make-when-trying-to-be-authentic-is-just/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) ## More by Vanessa Williams > [New York is my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/new-york-is-my-home/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [When Cuba Gooding Jr. and I were doing 'The Trip to Bountiful,' we would always go to BXL, a Belgian restaurant/bar. It was across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/when-cuba-gooding-jr-and-i-were-doing-the-trip-to-bountiful-we-would/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [Sometimes the very thing your looking for is the one thing you can't see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/sometimes-the-very-thing-your-looking-for-is-the-one-thing-you-can-t/) [VANESSA WILLIAMS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I love to ski and drive fast cars and the thrill of exciting things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-love-to-ski-and-drive-fast-cars-and-the-thrill-of-exciting-things/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I don't really shop a lot, just cause I'd rather not spend my money on clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-don-t-really-shop-a-lot-just-cause-i-d-rather-not-spend-my-money-on/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [It's not like I refuse to try roles other than being a strong female boss, but I am 54, and I'm happy I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-other-than-being-a-strong-female/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [My parents were always supportive. They didn't say, 'Get a real job.' They believed in the arts, and they prepared me to be skilled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/my-parents-were-always-supportive-they-didn-t-say-get-a-real-job-they/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [Whether it's your family, friends, community that you connect with, don't be afraid to reach out. That's my biggest advice that I can say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/whether-it-s-your-family-friends-community-that-you-connect-with-don/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I've got a yoga instructor and a trainer. I just started a heavy-bag class, which is like boxing and cardio, and I salsa dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-ve-got-a-yoga-instructor-and-a-trainer-i-just-started-a-heavy-bag/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [Kids are on their keyboards so much, between their smartphones and laptops, no one writes anything anymore. It's atrocious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/kids-are-on-their-keyboards-so-much-between-their-smartphones-and/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I am not a lesbian and I am not a slut, and somehow I am going to make people believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-am-not-a-lesbian-and-i-am-not-a-slut-and-somehow-i-am-going-to-make/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [Sometimes the snow comes down in June, sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon, just when I thought our chance had passed, you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/sometimes-the-snow-comes-down-in-june-sometimes-the-sun-goes-round/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I've picked up a lot of fans from doing 'Ugly Betty': a lot of teenagers who didn't even know I had a singing career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-ve-picked-up-a-lot-of-fans-from-doing-ugly-betty-a-lot-of-teenagers/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [Both my parents were educators, so interviews and college applications and shaking hands and looking people in the eye and feeling confident and knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/both-my-parents-were-educators-so-interviews-and-college-applications/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I've been really, really fortunate to get some fantastic opportunities on Broadway, and I cherish all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-ve-been-really-really-fortunate-to-get-some-fantastic-opportunities/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) [Explore all 26 Vanessa Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) ## More Authentic quotes > [“RIGHT Do you do what feels right or what is seen right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-downer/right-do-you-do-what-feels-right-or-what-is-seen-right/) [Kitty Downer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-downer/) > [When somebody comes across as authentic and genuine and sweet, people just want to spend time with that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/when-somebody-comes-across-as-authentic-and-genuine-and-sweet-people/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [Anything that I ever do is from the heart and authentic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-carlisle/anything-that-i-ever-do-is-from-the-heart-and-authentic/) [Belinda Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-carlisle/) > [Being authentic can be a good thing in that often people who are fixated on that are also fixated on having very high standards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-meyer/being-authentic-can-be-a-good-thing-in-that-often-people-who-are/) [Edgar Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-meyer/) > [“REMEMBER Do you live your life according to how you want to remember it or how you will be remembered?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-downer/remember-do-you-live-your-life-according-to-how-you-want-to-remember/) [Kitty Downer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-downer/) > [I've put my days of fantasy behind me and make authentic realistic films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-bhatt/i-ve-put-my-days-of-fantasy-behind-me-and-make-authentic-realistic/) [Vikram Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-bhatt/) > [I think as long as you're authentic, people will relate to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-woodson/i-think-as-long-as-you-re-authentic-people-will-relate-to-that/) [Charles Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-woodson/) > [I had always wanted to expand to beauty, but I knew I wanted to be able to translate my design aesthetic in an authentic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-ronson/i-had-always-wanted-to-expand-to-beauty-but-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be/) [Charlotte Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-ronson/) > [“But now? Being a sellout is the authentic thing. When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/but-now-being-a-sellout-is-the-authentic-thing-when/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [“The biggest mistake people make when trying to be authentic is just that: they try. They see these role models of what an "authentic"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/the-biggest-mistake-people-make-when-trying-to-be-authentic-is-just/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [“Some days I like to wander to old and warn our places, forests ripped apart by man and streams that carry stagnant water where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/some-days-i-like-to-wander-to-old-and-warn-our-places-forests-ripped/) [Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [Christie led the way - with a bulldozer. The governor is blunt, brash, and self-consciously authentic, the antithesis to what turns off today's voters:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/christie-led-the-way-with-a-bulldozer-the-governor-is-blunt-brash-and/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [“Show up authentically and synergy will meet you there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/show-up-authentically-and-synergy-will-meet-you-there/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Disturb reality, defy gravity, be authentic and above all... be happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-gonzalez/disturb-reality-defy-gravity-be-authentic-and-above-all-be-happy/) [Joaquin Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-gonzalez/) > [We have to express ourselves in the most true and authentic way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/we-have-to-express-ourselves-in-the-most-true-and-authentic-way/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) [Browse all 784 Authentic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As I grow older, I feel like my authentic self has been able to shine through more and more, and people can see that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vanessa Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic-self-has-been-able-to-shine/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authentic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic-self-has-been-able-to-shine/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/vanessa-williams-22976_authentic_as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic_769242.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/vanessa-williams-22976_authentic_as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic_769242.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/vanessa-williams-22976_authentic_as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic_769242.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As I grow older, I feel like my authentic self has been able to shine through more and more, and people can…” — Vanessa Williams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Vanessa Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As I grow older, I feel...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic-self-has-been-able-to-shine/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic-self-has-been-able-to-shine/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```