How many times have you consciously tried to change something about yourself? How many times has that been to benefit you? Or was it to benefit someone else? Being yourself is something we all at some point seem to struggle with- though when I write that it sounds completely ridiculous. Why would we struggle with being
ourselves? Whether its about sexuality, wanting to be promiscuous, wanting to save yourself until marriage, wanting to change your appearance, wanting to take an art degree instead of a science, not wanting to take a degree at all, wanting to drink, wanting to be teetotal, wanting a tattoo...some else always has
something to say about it. Usually something negative. Because some people are dicks....
I am beginning to learn that I would rather be myself than be a people pleaser (although don't get me wrong, I also like to see my family and friends happy with something I've gone out of my way to do for them). Being yourself is something integral to finding your way in the world, because once you can be yourself you can also head in the direction that
you want to go in. The specific time it can be hard to be yourself is said to be teenage years. Wrong. I think it can be hard to be yourself throughout your life- but every time life throws something at you that makes it hard to be yourself, that's also an opportunity to find out what exactly who you are.
The whole world may not "adjust" per say. What adjusts is your own
little world. People will always be dicks. But as you go through life, if you are yourself, the people surrounding you change. You meet people with similar interests, with temperaments that you like, who make you laugh, who make you happy, and who you enjoy spending time with.
So, my challenge to you this week is to think about what makes you
you. The things you want to celebrate about yourself. And whatever that is (provided you aren't a completely horrible person, and also take into account that other people have a right to be themselves too) the world will just have to get used to it.