Be Yourself… Always
Something that bumfuzzles and frustrates me nearly to the point of being speechless is when people try to be anyone and everyone except for the only one they’re meant to be… themselves!
Undoubtedly you’ve seen these birds, yourself…
- The lady who posts pictures of herself from the gym (multiple pics from ONE trip, mind you), talking about how much fitness matters to her… calling herself a gym rat…yet you know, full well (and evidence will bear you out) she went the ONE time. She wants to appear to be fitness-minded when she really isn’t. Why?
- The man who happens to be a night owl, yet seems convinced that everyone he’s trying to impress in the world expects him to be an early bird. So he shuts off the late night movie he happens to be enjoying, heads to bed, then drags himself out of bed at 5:00 the next morning, crowing to the world, “I’m up! I’m up! I’m UPPPPP! Look, Twitter… I’m up with the roosters!” Why?
- The girl who really isn’t into name brands or even clothes for that matter. She’d much rather spend her money on books or toys for her dog…. but the “cool girls” wear only the most expensive jeans and she has to fit in, right? Why?
- The college student who eats just like the rest of us, but thinks he’ll impress more people if he claims to be Keto. Why?
I think the answer to each why is the same – they aren’t completely comfortable in their own skin, so they want to slip into someone else’s skin. Sounds creepy.. and to an extent, it kind of is. Thing is, when people hop on social media and try to paint themselves in a certain way, they’re only making their own self image issues and lack of confidence worse. They’re creating a “them” that doesn’t even exist, so when they look at this fake image (like a false god from Old Testament times!)… there’s nothing there!
If you ever find yourself creating a dream scenario of yourself – stop before you even begin. If you’re eating a hamburger, own it! Say, “I’m eating a hamburger, and if you think that’s something, you should see the fries!”
Don’t like working out? Admit it, no one will hate you for it. I haven’t attempted anything near a “work out” in 6-7 years, but best I can remember I hated it! If you want to let the world know what you’re doing – be honest about it. Sitting in your favorite chair, watching your favorite television show, give it a shout out. Reading a great author, recommend the book. THIS is the way you find like-minded friends and THIS is the way you learn to both meet and like yourself.
Think about it, if the people you’re so worried about impressing wouldn’t like or respect the real you…. why are you even wasting your time with them?