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“Just be yourself” is a simple phrase for a very difficult task.
Often times we have spent so much of our lives being what we thought we needed to be for a myriad of reasons that we truly don’t know who the heck we are. Whether it is believing something because we were raised in such a way, saying the perfect response to acquire the job we so desperately want, behaving a certain way to maintain a relationship with a significant other or wearing a certain piece of clothing because it’s the trend of the season and want to fit in, we consciously contort ourselves to become what others would prefer us to be, or what we think others want us to be instead of being who we are meant to be.
As Cummings states in his above quote, to follow along is by far the easier and less aversive decision, but it certainly isn’t a path that leads to contentment or fulfillment.
After all, each of us is born with innate talents, skills and gifts packaged with the details of our own rare physicality, family background, experience and time in history that the world has never seen the likes of before. Why then are we so willing to let this amazing phenomenon be so swiftly cast aside so that we can look like, act like and be accepted like, someone else?
Quite simply, and I’ve been guilty of this in my past, it’s easier. It’s much less painful if one is a teenager to do as the crowd does; it’s much less emotionally draining to be the yes-man at work than to stand up and speak; and it’s much less agonizing to be numbed by incessant conversation and hoopla than to be uncomfortable in your own company. So yes, people who haven’t found the strength, and it takes a lot, decide instead to go along – to play a role. But in simply playing a role we are rudely ignoring the short time we have here on this rock we call earth. We are ignoring that our time, as we all know, but seem to forget, is finite.
While initially stepping out on the journey of getting to know just who we are and developing the person who is discovered is difficult, the road will gradually become less treacherous and much much more enjoyable than anything ever experienced while pretending to be someone else. Here are a few of the benefits I have found while letting myself just be me and developing the person I have found.
1. Be able to trust yourself
2. Be able to listen to others’ opinions and not be swayed
3. Find a genuine source of contentment that cannot be taken away
4. A courageous person emerges
5. Let your unique, creative talents shine
6. Attract people (friends, lovers, co-workers, employers) who appreciate the REAL you
7. Be able to revel in success that is truly yours
8. Your intuition is honed
9. Waste less time worrying about what others think
10. Understanding your feelings, knowing what makes you tick
11. A more sincere and magnetic person emerges
12. Being accepting of personal flaws and mistakes
13. Becoming gentler toward yourself
14. Realizing you are worthy, just as you are, always have been & always will be
15. Respond to difficult situations more effectively and healthfully
16. Capable of following through and reaching goals
17. Able to discover your purpose
So today, consciously be aware of what interests you, what attracts your attention, what stirs your imagination and causes you to lose all track of time, and try to do your best to ignore the persuasion of what others might think, say or how you might be treated. After all, it is their fear that prompts them to pass judgment on you because truthfully you may be an enigma that they can’t understand or explain. Continue to surprise, dazzle and enrich your life by just being you. It is the best gift you could ever possibly give yourself.
I encourage you to share the benefits that you have encountered as you too have welcomed the idea of just being yourself. Thank you for stopping by today and have a beautiful and inspired Monday.
This is such a great post to start the week, it sets the pace for what i should be trying to achieve while going through all the hustle and bustle.
Happy Monday Shannon 🙂
A beautifully written post…lovely blog…I’m a new follower!
http://wwwcatherinerobinsoncashmere.blogspot.com/
Inspirational post 🙂
What a great message to start the week with….always be true to who you are 🙂
This is what I needed before crazy Monday at P&G office- thank you 🙂
Xoxo,
La Kat
Fantastic post and great photos to go with it ! i thoroughly enjoyed it !
Kisses
http://www.mydailyglamour.com
Love the post…great pics!
Catherine – Thank you for stopping by. So nice to meet you. 🙂
Shannon,
I loved this post. It seems like you know and write about things I have been thinking about these last couple of weeks!!! It was a great read to start the week.
Have a good week Shannon
Joanna
You always have the very best messages. It is the best feeling to surround yourself w/ those who love and accept you for who you truly are… these are the people in our lives who count!! xo
Lovely sentiments, and so important to hold on to–thank you Shannon! Hope you are having a wonderful Memorial Day! So nice to see you pop by my blog.
xoxo Mary Jo
What a beautiful posting. I am inspired to continue to strive to be myself. Thank you for this inspiration.
http://realbeauty-realbeauty.blogspot.com/
Wonderful post! It’s so important to accept yourself and be content with yourself, embrace your uniqueness and the others (the ones who count) will love you for who you truly are. Wishing you a lovely week! 🙂 Ada
Thank you so much for this post. It really hit home with me. I needed to center my self, and reading your post really helped. Your post and blog is wonderful. Love, Anika
Thanks for posting this – it’s a lovely reminder to stop and think about whether we are really being true to ourselves, and how we can ensure that we strive for this.
Very inspiring. Thank you!
L x
http://www.blushingforcouture.blogspot.com
Thank you so much….As you would most likely agree, when we read something, hear something or witness something, exactly point on as how we are feeling inside, we needed to believe, our timing is in sinc with our harmony of life. This is how I felt when reading your post this evening….needed it and feel so much better after reading it!
xo
Wendy
Shannon, this ties so beautifully with a post I just wrote about one of the most individualistic movie stars of them all, Kate Hepburn, that I wanted to encourage your readers to take a look. I love what you’ve said here–as always, you hit the nail square on the head and your advice is so straightforward and sincere. Many thanks for sharing your wisdom with us!
Warmest admiration,
Kay
http://www.moviestarmakeover.blogspot.com
Wonderful. Absolutely love this post.
Thanks,
Laura and Blakeley
http://www.restorationharbor.etsy.com
“After all, each of us is born with innate talents, skills and gifts packaged with the details of our own rare physicality, family background, experience and time in history that the world has never seen the likes of before.”
Simply beautiful. Spot on.
It is a good post. Being yourself is a good thing especially if it is not offensive, its not against the law and instills good qualities in others. In short being yourself shouldn’t soley be about you but about others as well.
http://alexander-best-advice.blogspot.com/2013/08/benefits-of-being-yourself.html
What a lovely read this morning as I have recently begun my own journey this year to knowing and accepting myself.