How to Be Yourself

In most of the relationship articles like how to make someone like you or something related to attracting people to you, there is always this mention of 'being yourself'. In that context being yourself refers to not trying to replicate anyone or not trying to do what is not your nature. But is that all that is to being yourself? Are you being yourself by not emulating someone or by just doing what you want?

What Does it Take to Be Yourself

Introspect, Look Inside
If you do not know yourself inside out, then you would not be able to go a step further. Introspection and looking inside is instrumental to knowing what you are not changing the core and positive aspects of your being. If you yourself are not clear about who 'YOU' are and what is your personal SWOT analysis, you are going to come to a dead end. It is essential to be comfortable with yourself and indulge in positive thinking.

Focus on Yourself
Once you have done a self analysis, introspected on your inner being, it is the time to focus on this material world. Think about your passion, likes and dislikes and what you basically want to do and achieve in life. Make it clear to yourself what you like and do not like, what is your passion in your life. If you do not like something even after you have experimented with it, do not try to like it because your best friend goes ga ga over it. Focusing on what your passion and interests are will uncover ways of self motivation in front of you.

Honesty is the Best Policy
The first two things will help you be honest and to avoid any pretense whatsoever. Being frank and honest and expressing what you feel frankly is one way in which you can be yourself. But yes, this does not mean that you should be outright blunt always, as by doing that you might hurt others unknowingly. But where ever you can speak out freely, without holding anything back, it is best to be honest.

Believe Believe Believe
Confidence and self-assurance and not over confidence are two more things important, especially when you are talking about being yourself around people. You have to believe in what you do and what you want, there has to be a conviction in it! If you falter, it is fine, getting up, giving it your best shot with full confidence is what matters. Moreover, you should have the faith in yourself. If you know what you are, it would not matter much what the whole world thinks of you. But yes, that will not mean that you have unrealistic expectations from yourself. To not to have that, introspection and self analysis is a must, as mentioned above. That will tell you how to become confident in yourself.

Look Good, Feel Good
Understanding how to be yourself does not at all imply that you focus only on your inner self. I mean just as how you are as a human being from the soul, how you carry yourself, how is your external appearance, that too matters a lot. Just picture this - you are shabbily dressed, wearing your dad's old t-shirt and stuff like that, with an ominous looking bag, no one would come and talk to you, right? So one needs to be presentable enough and dress well and look good too. That adds brownie points to your personality. Unless people come and talk to you, (which will not happen if you are a fashion disaster or an Ugly Betty) they would not know what kind of a person you are. In a nutshell, you need to have a combination of inner beauty as well as a smart appearance. Learn how to be happy with yourself, and things will fall in place.

These are just a few things which came to my mind. These things might be a bit tough to imbibe than read them, for starters. However, if given a serious thought, it actually is not a tough nut to crack! What eventually I feel is that we all are unique and none of us can be like someone else! Having rambled about being yourself reminds me of what Johann von Goethe had said - If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise.