Be Who You Are and Say What You Feel

Happiness Designer

There's a great quote by Dr. Seuss that says,

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

So often we spend time worrying about what others think of us, or trying to make a good impression for the people we think are important to our life and our success. But why?

It starts at a young age - we all want our parents' praise and encouragement, then we want our siblings to approve and like us, then it becomes our friends and peers, then the people we work with. This idea of being liked and respected by others can be at the expense of who you are.

You may decide that there is something about you that others will not approve of or like. So we move away from who we are and try to be who we think others want us to be.

This can work for a while, but eventually you get so lost in trying to be someone else, you actually forget who you are. The best way to find yourself again or for the first time is to ask yourself some key questions:

• Who am I?
• What do I like about myself?
• Am I confident enough in who I am to be authentic with others?
• What are some things I don’t want people to know about me? Why?
• Do I feel like I have to put on different hats, depending on the situation?
• What is the worst thing that could happen if I were my authentic self all the time, with everyone I knew, met and did Business with?
• Is the image I have of myself True? Or False? Or still in discovery mode?
• Has anyone ever told you or implied that being who you are is not ok? Was it you?
• Do I celebrate who I am and make no apologies for it?

It’s a lot of work to put on a façade, always trying to please everyone by being someone you think they want you to be. If we look for acceptance, approval, love, self-worth etc. in others, it means that all of these things are based on whether they approve of us If we rely on someone else's approval and they leave, they will take that approval with them and we are no better off.

However, if we approve, accept and love ourselves as we are -, authentic, amazing, creative, funny, beautiful human beings we will have this always. Then if others love us and accept us it becomes a bonus. Who doesn’t want more love and acceptance? The important difference is when we see ourselves as we are, which is “exceptional,” no one can ever take that away. Taking time to gain self-awareness will allow you the courage to be your true, authentic self. If you have ever wondered if you are living your life purpose, ask yourself if you are true to who you are. If you share yourself with others openly, honestly and with true integrity, then you are living your purpose.

Enjoy who you are, share it with others, and revel in being your true authentic self, because it is then you realize the approval, love acceptance you were looking for was really there all along!

“Good people inspire themselves, Great people inspire others” -Unknown