Authenticity is not a great guide for living. Psychopaths are authentic, but no one of sound mind would praise them for it. Our motives are not always pure and

Authenticity is not a great guide for living. Psychopaths are authentic, but no one of sound mind would praise them for it. Our motives are not always pure and good, and our culture's feels-before-reals elevation of "authenticity" into a supreme virtue has been a source of much grief. Now, having the courage to act according to what you know by prudence is the right and just thing to do is something else. Here, you are acting according to what is objectively good, and not only that, but what you know is objectively good. And yes, you could say that acting out of genuine courage does make a person feel more alive, as he isn't shrinking out of fear and cowardice. He is acting against the comfort of mediocrity, and as we all know, a little danger and risk does get the blood moving.