Be ‘You’

“It’s simple; be YOU. If you’re not being you, you’re being someone else. YOU are not here to be someone else.” ~ Dr. Steve Maraboli …

I know many individuals who spend a great deal of time and energy trying to please others and worrying about what others think of them. And I think to myself, “What a silly way to go through your life, what a waste of one’s own unique gifts and talents.” We do not have to live our lives to please others… for other’s have the opportunity to live their life in a manner that is pleasing to themselves; doing so would be selling ourselves short to God and to the world.

If someone criticizes us, or our actions, we should be suspicious of their motives: do they truly care about us and have our best interests in mind, or are they trying to get us to act some way to benefit themselves at our expense. When people try to exert some control over our lives by showing excessive concern with the things we say and do, the best thing for us to do is not to let it bother us–to continue on living our lives to the fullest and to the best of our ability. However, with that being said, we have to remember that we are ultimately called to show compassion, love, and concern for our fellow man. Therefore, we must try our best to be the person we were created to be without intentionally harming others or treating them unfairly.

You were created to be who you are. Your talents and abilities contribute to the wonder and diversity of this world. Do not let life pass you by without leaving your unique footprint upon it, for you are a necessary part of this universe–of life.

Be your authentic self, and encourage someone close to you to do the same.

Questions to consider:

Are you always your authentic self? What might keep you from being so?

Why are some individuals so concerned about what we say, do, or think?

How often do we let those individuals influence the things we do or say? Why?

For further thought:

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