That moment came from something beyond survival or performance—from what psychology might call the “authentic self” (Rogers, 1961), the part of us capable of compassion, empathy, and genuine presence. It was not motivated by reward, status, or ego, but by a core sense of shared humanity. But they nourish your core self, build connection, and remind you of what really lasts. What if we spent even half as much time nurturing the authentic self as we do chasing furniture or scrolling through social media? That’s your core (authentic) self.