Russian writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn famously said that the line between good and evil goes through the heart of every man.
None of us are purely benevolent or purely evil, was Solzhenitsyn’s point. We’re all a little messy, a little conflicted.
But some people do have a truly genuine heart. They tell the truth and have high self-awareness, moving through life in a conscious way aimed at building bridges and healing divides.
These people can be seen by their actions and by the way they move through the world and interact with others.
Let’s take a look at the signs of an authentic-hearted individual.
1) Expressing real emotions
How many times have you seen a video on social media where the person is emphasizing and acting out their emotions for dramatic effect?
They’re playing a role and acting, even though it’s with their real emotions.
The person with a genuine heart doesn’t try to make their emotions come across a certain way or use them as part of a strategy. They express real emotions on the spot and wear their heart on their sleeve.
How they feel is just how they feel, whether or not it’s convenient or easy to understand or what other people expect.
2) Trusting and forgiving others
The person with a genuine heart sees the world in an optimistic way.
They start with the belief that everyone is as authentic as them, and thus tend to be quite trusting and forgiving of other people’s mistakes.
This has certain downsides, of course, including being more susceptible to scams and lies. But it also has huge advantages in that the genuine-hearted individual becomes a big benefit to whatever community or group they’re involved in.
Unsurprisingly, people appreciate a kind and forgiving person!
3) Valuing experience more than material gain
It’s necessary to make a living and have your needs met, but those with a genuine heart are focused on experiences.
They don’t put material gain first, but rather consider it as something that comes along with connecting with and contributing to the world around them.
They want to have real experiences, deep friendships, true love and a life well lived.
This doesn’t mean all genuine-hearted people are dreamers, but it does mean they never put their own gain and profit ahead of friendship and real connections.
4) Avoiding harm to innocent people or creatures
Those with a genuine heart don’t want to harm innocent people or living things.
They’re just not into it.
When it comes to hunting or livestock farming that depends more on culture and can vary, but generally speaking the authentic person feels a revulsion at harm to innocents.
The same can be said in the reverse, too:
They feel anger and extremely upset by seeing injustice or violence done to the innocent. It makes them want to do something and stand up and fight for the downtrodden to protect them from harm.
5) Genuinely caring about the world and other people
The genuine-hearted person cares about the world and other people. But they care for real.
Unlike generation hashtag and its social media performances, the genuine person is for real. They aren’t trying to just say what’s popular or pretend to care in order to be seen as a good person, meet sex partners or get more followers.
They actually care. And they can’t hide that they care even when it’s unpopular.
If that makes them an activist or a rebel, so be it. All they know is that complacency isn’t in their dictionary.
6) High sensitivity and perceptiveness
Genuine people are highly sensitive and perceptive.
They don’t pretend everything’s OK if it’s not, and they love to celebrate and find the positive when things are going well.
They tend to have high empathy and can sense what’s going on between people and the subtleties of relationships.
They don’t like liars, but can sometimes be taken in by them when they assume people are well-intentioned who are not.
Their sensitivity extends a lot to compassion and noticing things that are going on between other people, however, and they want to make a positive difference whenever possible.
7) A creative and imaginative approach to life
The genuine-hearted person is creative and imaginative in their approach to life.
They enjoy art, music and expressions of beauty and love meeting and spending time with others who do as well.
When it comes to work, the authentic person is able to find ways to bring a company’s vision to the forefront and express it in a new and imaginative form. They become an inspiration to other colleagues and superiors ask for input.
This authentic person doesn’t lie for brownie points or pretend to like bland corporate-speak: they have a unique vision and insights about creative ways to make a company stand out and succeed.
8) Making new places home-y and making others feel wanted
One of the biggest skills of the authentic-hearted person is that they make others feel accepted and wanted.
They are able to move into a new place and make it feel like a home in no time at all.
They have a skill with creating a welcoming atmosphere that brings out the best in others and shows people they can be themselves.
By making people feel seen and wanted, the authentic person is able to foster situations that make others speak freely and express themselves.
9) Caring about people’s character
Those with a genuine heart look far below surface appearances. They are perceptive about the people around them and their deeper character.
Rather than just rely on appearance or popular reputation, the authentic hearted person will watch how people actually act.
The words folks say are one thing, but what do they actually do?
Those with a genuine heart and solid character care about who somebody really is under the surface, rather than just their job or outer role.
10) An attention to detail and the beauty of nature
Those with a genuine heart tend to be romantics and idealists.
They notice the beautiful details of nature and revel in its rhythms and seasons. The genuine-hearted person notices the dewdrop on a leaf and marvels at it, while breathing in fresh spring air. It’s a miracle to them.
They’re not pretending to be grateful or making a show of it, they’re truly swept up in the magic of nature and the environment.
The genuine person shows what they love and wears their heart on their sleeve with the wonder of a child.
