How To Be You?
Some people go their entire lives without examining or understanding their true selves. They have, often unconsciously, let others tell them who they are.
They let society determine their goals and dreams. It’s the easy way out.
You’re not one of those people.
You want to dig deep and learn how to be yourself – your true self.
Once you do, you’ll reveal a life filled with possibility and fulfilment.
1. KNOW THYSELF
Our beliefs about who we are go all the way to childhood.
We’re born as sponges, and we soak up our environment without even realising it.
We form an opinion of ourselves that we think is true – but it’s actually how we ‘think’ others want us to be.
These opinions become suggestions to our unconscious minds and become our limiting beliefs, and before you can answer the question “How can I be myself?” you must strip them away.
Your true authentic self is underneath.
2. BE CURIOUS ABOUT NEGATIVE SELF-TALK
Limiting beliefs manifest within our minds as negative self-talk.
To overcome limiting beliefs and learn how to start being yourself, listen to your inner monologue.
You may tell yourself things like, “I’ve always been this way” or “I’m just not a good learner.” Perhaps you tell yourself that you need to be perfect to be worthy of love. Catch this self-talk and question it.
Is it masking who you really are?
3. FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTHS
Your negative traits are not who you are.
Replace negative self-talk with positive thoughts that empower you to be yourself. This is called reframing.
When you focus on your strengths, you build yourself up instead of tear yourself down.
Not sure what your strengths are?
Think of the times in your life when you’ve felt the most “in your element.”
You felt that way because you were finally discovering how to start being yourself.
4. LET GO OF THE PAST
Your past does not equal your future.
Everyone has made mistakes.
Mistakes don’t have to define who you are, and you don’t need to spend your life making ‘amends’ for them.
Learn how to let go of your negative emotions and limiting beliefs and stop living in the past.
Your life can be anything you want it to be – so make it what you want. Make it extraordinary.
5. WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK, IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
For many of us, not caring what others think is easier said than done.
It’s human nature to want to fit in, but our fear of what other people think can hold us back.
Remember that what people think of you is actually a reflection of them, not you.
You can’t control other people’s opinions.
All you can do is learn how to be yourself – and how to be happy with that.
6. EMBRACE CHANGE
The human brain is complex. It is a quantum device.
We are the product of hundreds of experiences and pieces of information that our brains process and have processed every day of our lives.
The brain is always learning and changing, so how can we expect ourselves to stay the same?
Remember that you can change your opinions, beliefs, attitudes, and preferences while still fundamentally knowing how to be yourself.
To be yourself, you must actually allow yourself to change.
7. BE AUTHENTIC
It’s easy to show off the good parts of ourselves.
To be yourself, you have to be your whole self, as they say, warts and all!
That also means being willing to be vulnerable.
If you’re wondering “How can I be myself?,” the answer is to step into your pain and face your fears head on.
Be open and honest with your partner and your friends.
Tell them how you really feel.
Share your deepest fears.
You might be surprised how it strengthens your relationships.
8. USE CREATIVE WAYS TO EXPRESS YOURSELF
Expressing yourself can help you determine what you enjoy, how your experiences affect you and how to start being yourself.
You could keep a journal and record what you did well each day and what you enjoyed, as well as things you could have done better.
Express yourself through art, writing, music or even gardening.
It’s while we’re engaged in things we love that we feel most ourselves.
9. GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
People crave certainty – it’s one of the Six Human Needs.
Yet we also need growth and variety.
Tony Robbins tells us that “All growth starts at the end of your comfort zone.”
The journey to learning how to be yourself starts there, too.
Experience new things and notice how they make you feel.
You’ll learn more about yourself by leaving your comfort zone than you ever thought possible.
10. FIND YOUR TRIBE
Once you’ve done the internal work, it’s time to seek support and acceptance for the new you.
When you surround yourself with the right people, they’ll elevate your best traits and build you up, instead of holding you back.
You’ll finally feel like you can stop searching for how to be yourself as you enter a place where everyone already knows who you really are and love and accepts you for it.
