You would think it would be the easiest thing to simply be who you are, but it‘s more difficult than expected. With so many pressures from society and outward influence in every decision you make, it can take a strong person to fully be who they are and say no when they want to say no. Nevertheless, embracing yourself and the person you want to be is essential on the road to happiness and for having high self-esteem.
If you‘re looking for a little help in staying true to yourself, read on.
- Don‘t Be Influenced During the Important Choices
There are many acknowledged important milestones in life. While these are personal and different for everybody, you can generally accept that decisions such as education, career, and family life are the big decisions to make for everyone. There can be a lot of pressure when it comes to these decisions because you will naturally want to base your choice on what other people are doing.
If you are a student considering university, it‘s natural to want to latch on to the friends you have already made and follow them to their chosen university – or maybe even the same subject. However, these friends you have now may not be your friends for life, and when it comes to education, you need to make the right choice for yourself. If the field you really wish to go into is difficult or expensive, consider alternative universities that offer Utah scholarships, as discussed on CampusReel. Don‘t make your education choice based on what everyone else is doing.
It’s also important not to feel pressure from others, especially regarding career and family life. Try to avoid comparing yourself to others and what others have achieved at a certain age. Your life is your own, and there‘s no right or wrong.
- Establish Your Style and Identity
It may be something you‘ve known all along, but it‘s amazing how easily your own identity can be put on the backburner when you‘re trying to fit in or please others. You may even end up in denial with yourself. Take small steps to gradually learn more about who you are. This could be:
- Considering the clothes that you feel most confident and comfortable in, regardless of what other people are wearing.
- Considering what your perfect day would be. Is it dragging yourself out to social occasions, or do you find that you actually feel happiest at home with a book? There‘s nothing wrong with being introverted. Likewise, if you‘ve been staying in too much, don‘t be afraid to embrace the extrovert in you if you‘ve been feeling stifled.
- Meet new people. Only by being around people who have the same interests as you and the same outlook on life will you feel more at home with who you are. You can easily begin to doubt who you are if you‘re around the wrong people, but that doesn‘t mean there‘s anything wrong with you.
- Do Things Which Scare You
If you‘ve been avoiding doing things you really want to do simply because of fear, you‘re missing out on valuable experiences. Especially if these experiences are the pinnacle of who you really are as a person, such as relating to an interest you have or just something you‘ve always wanted to do. Actively trying to do more things which scare you allows you to embrace more of who you are and what you want to do.
Not only that but only once out of your comfort zone, do you truly understand who you are? By doing things that scare you, you may discover your new favorite pastime, meet likeminded people, or simply find the confidence you never knew you had.
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
