The Addams Family's Values in Acceptance and Authenticity

The American Psychological Association describes authenticity as: “a mode of being that humans can achieve by accepting the burden of freedom, choice, and responsibility and the need to construct their own values and meanings in a meaningless universe” (American Psychological Association). The Addams Family embodies this in many ways: their expression of their love for the macabre, their lack of judgment of others, and their support for their family. If we look at the heads of the Addams household, Gomez and Morticia, we see a couple who adore not only each other but also their children. We see them listen to each other's concerns or wants, and then act accordingly.

As for their children, they support them in all their interests, whether it be explosives, creating new weapons, or even scaring people. Even when the world judges them for their seemingly odd ways, the Addams don’t bat an eye; in fact, they don’t retaliate or make any remarks. They don’t expect others to be like them, and they don’t want to be like others. They are happy living authentically, and it’s this authenticity that keeps this cycle of security going. Now, how do we become like The Addams Family? Well, according to Dr. Tchiki Davis, there are 20 ways we can improve and become our authentic selves.

According to Davis, “For most of us, our Authentic Self is buried deep in our unconscious, where it remains hard to identify and let out.” And out of those twenty tips, five are already embraced by The Addams family: 1 - Exploring your values 2 - Have compassion for others 3 - Strive to improve yourself 4 - Speak Your Truth 5 - Find your purpose Living authentically is no easy feat, and it can often be extremely scary or stressful at first. Every day, even if we don’t realize it, we often conform to others' expectations of us. Some of the most prominent examples are how we dress, the types of careers we choose, and the desire to hide our flaws. The reason we act this way is often out of a fear of being ridiculed or being left out, but it’s this willingness to bravely be ourselves that builds the strongest bonds.