Have you ever tried to be something you’re not to impress someone? How did that turn out for you? When the person finds out that you’re not being honest, they won’t stay around long.
Molly met a handsome boy, Jake, who is from an affluent family. Molly’s family doesn’t have money, so she is afraid that he won’t like her. So, she lies about her job and family’s wealth to get a date with him.
Things are sizzling between the two of them almost from the start. However, there’s a black cloud of deception hovering over them that could ruin their relationship. Jake finds out the truth, and Molly has some explaining to do.
Sure, he might have given her a chance if he got to know the genuine person on the inside, but since she decides to lie and not be herself, she created a toxic situation that led to their demise.
Molly lacked self-esteem and confidence in who she was as a person, and it cost her the one thing she wanted more than anything. The key here is that you need to stop being so hard on yourself and beating yourself up over things you can’t control. If you can’t love and accept yourself, how can you expect others to do the same?
Had Molly only been honest, the story might have an entirely different ending. The lesson is that you can’t get anywhere in life by being something you’re not. You must be yourself, and if people don’t like you, then it’s on them.
Five Benefits You Reap When You Can Be Yourself
1. You Have Your Own Identity
Science proves that there’s only one of you in this entire world. Looking at your DNA demonstrates that no two human beings are alike, even if you’re an identical twin. Science Daily posts this unique research that proves that you’re uniquely you, and there will never be anyone like you.
Looking beyond DNA and science, you can see that your individuality is remarkable. The things that make you different are how you do your hair, smile, talk, and dress. The world is full of people who live behind a façade, but when you can live in the truth and be yourself, it gives you freedom that feels amazing.
Have you ever met a person that tends to “march to the beat of their own drum?” They dare to be different, and they don’t care what anyone has to say about it. These are the people who are truly happy inside, as they don’t try to fit into the box of normality.
2. Be Yourself–You Will Gain Courage
Have you ever tried creating a whirlpool effect in a swimming pool? What happens when you try to turn and go against the current? It’s nearly impossible to do.
The same things happen in life. When you dare to go against the grain, you face fierce opposition. However, do you realize the courage that it takes to be different?
Remember back to the high school days when peer pressure was so great as kids sprouted their wings? If you told the “in-crowd” that you didn’t want to do certain things, they might have called you names and pegged you as an outcast. However, you were the winner, as you didn’t need to fit into their clicks to be happy.
If you don’t stand for something in this life, then you will fall for anything. When you be yourself and don’t apologize to anyone for it, you will gain courage you never knew you had inside.
3. You Have Defined Boundaries
Boundaries are a topic that few people like to talk about. Setting limits is healthy both for you and those around you. The key is that you don’t cross these limitations for the sake of your sanity.
A healthy boundary for a newly dating couple would be no intimacy for one month of dating. Even if the other party tries to break that rule, you’ve decided that you want things to be at a higher level before you involve romance. The people you date, who truly care about you, will respect those boundaries, as they’re important.
Maybe you were the kid in school that wouldn’t tell a lie no matter what the situation. The kids around you would soon recognize your limits and know better than asking you to lie for them. When you can freely be yourself, you can set boundaries that allow you to be authentic with yourself and the world around you.
4. You’re Focused and Have Direction
People who are preoccupied with being something they’re not, can genuinely have a miserable life. It’s often observed during the teen years when kids experiment with expression. They may express themselves through wild hairstyles, unique clothing, and headbanging music.
However, as you age, you tend to find what works for you. Only, the problem is that some people never find their niche and where they fit. When you can be yourself without any preoccupation with what you should be, you can remain focus and heading forward.
It’s exhausting to be something you’re not, or to attempt to fit into a box that wasn’t made for you. It’s as productive as chasing rainbows, and the result is one unhappy person. Be true to yourself, and your focus and direction will be enhanced.
5. You Live With Purpose
Some believe that each person is here on earth with a purpose to fulfill. Maybe, you’re supposed to help the elderly in hospice as they pass from this world to the next. Perhaps you’ve been called to work in a hospital with sick people who need kindness and care.
What is your purpose, and what makes you feel fulfilled as a human being? If you get distracted by silly things, you may not satisfy your destiny. Sure, there may be thousands of nurses in the city you live in, but you can make an impact just by being you.
Here is an illustration
Take, for instance, the cab driver in New York City who dared to be different. As reported on Daily Ten Minutes, Wally, the taxi driver, wasn’t like the other cabbies in the city. Harvey was in town visiting and needed to hitch a ride to the airport.
There are hundreds if not thousands of cab drivers in the city, but there was something different about Wally’s cab. When it pulled up to the corner, it was abnormally clean. Even the tires on this vehicle were sparkling. Wally got out of the cab to help Harvey with his luggage, and his presentation was just as clean as the vehicle.
He dressed as if he were driving a limo. Once inside, Harvey couldn’t help but notice the sign that talked about customer service. He was offered a soft drink or water since Wally kept a cooler upfront to refresh his guests.
He also has a thermos with coffee in it should his clients need a little caffeine boost, though he also had decaf. As the ride continued, Harvey was offered a newspaper, the choice of radio stations, and even the temperature that suited him best. Intrigued by this unique riding experience, Harvey asked Wally if he had always been this way.
To his surprise, Wally wasn’t always the best taxi in town, but he decided that’s what he wanted to be for his customers. He told Harvey that he spent the first five years of his career complaining and griping about his job just like all the other drivers, but he decided to change. He wanted to be the best driver around, giving his customers a great experience.
Fast forward two years, his cab is always full, and he is the most recognized cabbie in the area. The first year with his changed attitude did well for him, as he doubled his regular income. The following year his income quadrupled. He works for a large company, but people call to request him specifically.
See, it doesn’t matter what you do in life or where you go; when you be yourself, the sky is the limit.
Final Thoughts on Why It’s Pretty Great to Be Yourself
When you think beyond the here and now and stop trying to fit into molds created by society, you can accomplish amazing things. Look at Wally, the cab driver from NYC. He didn’t have a high school education and never went to college, but what he did was magnificent for his customers. His vision and drive to be different and stop fitting into the molds made him a legend.
When you dare to be yourself, the world is your oyster. Amazing things can and will happen when you stop trying to be something you’re not. This world needs people like you that are willing to bust out of the shell and think outside the box. Remember, ducks quack and eagles soar, and which one you want to be is up to you.
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