A lot of us spend a lifetime developing a facade for the public. While authenticity is a virtue that is much idealised, almost none of us practise it in day to day life - mostly out of fearing to upset the status-quo. Years ago, pop icon John Lennon had emphasised upon the importance of being our authentic selves and advocated for self love and acceptance. John Lennon On Importance Of Being AuthenticIn an interview with John Peebles in Auckland, New Zealand, on June 22, 1964, the Jealous Guy hitmaker firmly advocated self love and acceptance. He stated: “You don’t need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are.”Deeper Meaning Of The QuoteAt it’s core, Lenon’s philosophy is one that advocates self acceptance. Lennon tried to defy society’s tendencies to categorise individuals into neat little boxes. Through this quote, the ‘Hey Jude’ singer tried to establish that our worth is not dependent on external validation. You don’t need to adopt a persona or a facade. Relevance Of The QuoteSince we live in a digital world where many falls prey to the need for external validation. We are often bombarded with curated lifestyles, influencers with popular personas which harm our sense of self worth and increases need for validation from others. In a society obsessed with labels, Lennon’s quote champions need for autonomy and sovereignty. Who Was John Lennon?Lennon was an iconic singer-songwriter. He rose to fame as the co-founder and lead vocalist of The Beatles, regarded as the greatest boybands of all time. Lennon was born in Liverpool and developed a passion for music during his teenage years, particularly during the rise of the skiffle movement, a popular genre that blended folk, jazz, and blues influences. Inspired by the growing music culture around him, Lennon formed a group called The Quarrymen in 1956 while still a student. What began as a local skiffle band gradually transformed over the following years, eventually evolving into The Beatles in 1960.In 1970, he released his solo debut album John Lennon/Plastic Yoko Ono Band. In the early 70s, he delivered chartbusters with other pop icons such as Elton John (‘Whatever Gets You Through The Night’) and David Bowie (Fame). Regarded as one of the most successful musicians in history, Lennon has 25 songs in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Many of his songs such as All You Need Is Love became anti-war anthems. Lennon was shot dead in 1980, just three months after his musical comeback album Double Fantasy was released.