Throughout our lives we are told on many occasions that we should just be ourselves, this is something that is much easier said than done. What exactly does it even mean to ‘just be yourself‘?
There are so many questions associated with this topic. What if who we are sucks? What if we are just genuinely bad people? What if being ourselves is going to negatively impact other people? Are we really even who we think we are?
This is where things start to get complicated, and this is because who we think we are is not usually who we actually are. Most people have a story made up inside their heads, but the person underneath the story is who we actually are. It is so easy to get caught up in a world of make belief.
Most of us spend our entire lives trying to find the person behind the mask, only to realize that we had already accomplished that a very long time ago. The truth is, most of us are too scared to face the facts. I know I was, I was so much of a people pleaser that I was scared that people wouldn’t like the real me. However, the time came when I knew that I needed to take off the mask, and I have never looked back.
Even the best of us need a little help in that department, so if you are feeling lost just use the following steps.
1. Live in the moment
Living in the moment is not as hard as it may seem. This is going to bring about a new sense of freedom that you may not have experienced before. In this, you will be able to better understand where you wish to go in life, and who you are as a person.
So if you want to move out of the city you live in, do it. If you want to quit your job, and do something that actually makes you happy, do it. Remember, you only have one life to live, make the best of it!
2. Stop caring about .what other people think
If you want to dye your hair bright green and shave off your eyebrows, do it. Don’t worry about what society or the people around you will think. Your need to fit in is not more important than allowing yourself to be unique.
3. Be aware of your thoughts
The number of negative thoughts that run through our minds on a daily basis is shocking! Unfortunately, after so long, you will realize that you are letting all of the negative thoughts that run through your mind shape your physical reality.
It is so important to become more aware of the quality of your thinking. Let’s face it, negative thoughts are a part of life, but what you choose to do with those thoughts once they pop into your head is completely up to you. Observe the negative, and when you are done observing push it out of your head. Do not dwell on those thoughts or they will take hold of you and never let you go.
Become more aware of the quality of your thinking, let go of the old patterns, and become more present in your thinking. If you do these three things you will start to notice your true nature revealing itself.
4. Follow your intuition
Do your best to allow your intuition to guide you, do not ignore it. This is one of the biggest mistakes that people make. However, once you start to follow those little nudges and urges, you will start to see things fall into place.
I am not telling you to do something drastic, start small. Take a different route to work, try that new item on the menu, or sign up for that creative writing class that you have always wanted to take. After all, it is the small things in life that matter the most.
5. Be open to change
So many people are scared of change, myself included. However, change can be a good thing, as a matter of fact, change can be the best thing! Oftentimes we allow ourselves to get caught in a routine, and once you are in a routine it is so hard to get out. That routine will crush your spirit, and in the end it will hold you back from being the person that you were meant to be.
Never let the fear of change hold you back from doing what you actually want to do. You would be surprised of what you are capable of once you open yourself up to change.
These simple steps are designed to help you find your authentic self. The more you get to know yourself, the better you will feel. While it can be a challenge to figure out where to go from here it is worth it. Being yourself takes time, but once you figure it out everything will start to fall into place.
Sources not highlighted in this article include: Psychology Today, Tiny Buddha, the University Blog, and Greatist.
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