It’s possible to be true to yourself despite the world holding you back. Here’s how you can start living a life that’s more true to yourself.
Shift Your Mindset
Changing your mindset is the first step in making any significant life change. If you were conditioned to believe certain things, follow a certain path, and act a certain way, adjusting to new ways of thinking may take work.
That’s okay.
Take the time to work through those conflicting thoughts and feelings. Make a conscious effort to shift your mindset towards living for yourself rather than living for others.
Shadow Work
Shadow work is the tricky task of examining your inner mind and subconscious desires. It helps us uncover the truths about ourselves, including the ugly sides of our humanity we try to keep buried.
Learning everything about ourselves will help us understand our true selves, which is a vital step towards living a life true to it.
Get Comfortable with Yourself
Many people surround themselves with distractions to avoid sitting alone with themselves. They’re constantly on the go, consuming media and interacting with others, but they never take the time just to be.
If you want to be true to yourself, you must get comfortable with yourself.
Go on a solo adventure, eat at a restaurant alone, or reflect in quiet solitude for a few minutes.
Getting more comfortable with you will help you learn what you truly want out of life.
Set and Enforce Boundaries
One of the most significant limitations to staying true to yourself is other people’s expectations. They swoop into our lives with their ideas of how things must be done and drive us crazy with their condescending advice.
It’s okay to set boundaries with people who try to stifle you. Let your parents know that this is how you will live your life. End relationships with people who have a negative impact on your life. Say “no” to events that don’t inspire you.
Being true to yourself means recognizing what you need to be happy and healthy, and unfortunately, sometimes, we need to distance ourselves from those who don’t support us.
Surround Yourself with Like-Minded People
Humans need community and connection. Although you may have to limit your interactions with those who don’t understand your chosen path, you can find a community of like-minded folks who will be more supportive than you could ever imagine.
Join groups and organizations that speak to you. Find online communities filled with members who share your values. Create your own network of like-minded individuals that will support each other in your attempts to live authentically.
Having a close-knit group to share your struggles and triumphs, bounce ideas off of, and vent to when no one else seems to understand is a great resource that will help you stay on your chosen path.
Make Small Changes
Being yourself isn’t easy, especially when others constantly tell you you must be something else. It takes courage to make drastic changes, but the secret is you don’t have to.
You don’t have to change everything at once.
Instead, start small. Change the décor in one of your rooms. Get a haircut. Try a new style of clothing.
Make tiny changes in your routine that get you closer to your authentic self.
Manage Your Time Wisely
Time is a massive hindrance to being true to yourself. We’re often so tired after doing everything we must do that there’s no time to explore our true selves.
We must make time.
Where Does Your Time Go?
Be mindful of where your time goes. Are you zoning out to television or social media, wasting time with people who wouldn’t reciprocate, or doing chores others should be doing?
Do you make an effort to enjoy the present moment?
Our time in this world is limited. We need to manage it correctly to ensure we’re not spending it on the wrong things.
Accept Accountability
A harsh reality is that sometimes it is your fault. Sometimes you made decisions that go against what you really want for whatever reason.
If you want to be true to yourself, you need to accept responsibility for your past decisions and realize that you are the only person who can choose your future.
Stop Pointing Fingers
Stop blaming others for your situation in life. When you control your destiny, you can choose your own path and live life on your own terms.
Let Things Go
It’s hard to betray social norms and years of conditioning. We feel guilty if we don’t conform, so we pretend to be something we’re not to avoid hurt feelings, arguments, and making others unhappy.
We need to let that go.
How others choose to react to our life choices isn’t on us, it’s on them.
Let go of the hurt feelings, move past the guilt, and work towards self-acceptance despite what others might think. Their views and opinions are their own problem. We don’t need to take that upon ourselves.
Letting go also means forgiving ourselves. It’s okay if you made mistakes in the past. Don’t dwell on them. Forgive yourself for those mistakes, and forgive others when they can’t understand why we won’t conform.
Trust Your Gut
Our instincts lead us in the right direction more often than not. Trust them.
Trust your inner voice about what you want out of life. Deep down, that little nagging feeling is trying to tell you something about how to be yourself. Listen to it.
Our intuition often starts giving us hints when we’re heading in the wrong direction. If you get a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach or your hair raises on the back of your neck, stop and examine what you’re doing and why you’re subconscious may be sending you messages about it.
Explore
Some of us get so caught up in what we’re supposed to do that we don’t even know who we really are. To be yourself, you have to know yourself.
Get to know yourself by exploring the world and the opportunities around you. Take a class on the side for personal development. Dabble in a new hobby. Embark on a solo adventure to foreign lands.
Explore your inner self, the world around you, and your interests. Allow yourself to try new things to see if you like them. Discovering who you are is the best part about being true to yourself.
Build Confidence
Lack of self-esteem is an understated barrier to being true to yourself. We sometimes shy away from our authentic self because we fear it isn’t good enough.
Society tells us we have to be one thing, and when we’re not, we blame ourselves rather than consider that society might be wrong.
It’s hard to break through the mold and accept ourselves. However, it’s vital to living the full life you deserve.
Believe in yourself. You’re worthwhile just the way you are. Achieving self-acceptance is an essential step toward being true to yourself.
Express Yourself
Being yourself means expressing yourself. Proudly showcase what you like with your hairstyle, wardrobe, or body art. Use your purchasing power to support companies that align with your values.
Embrace your artistic side and express yourself through art, whether through painting, film, or writing. Join organizations you care about and help get the word out about your cause.
Being true to yourself means having the courage to express yourself verbally, visually, creatively, artistically, and in any other way.
Speak your truth, even if it’s not what others want to hear.
Make Time for Self-Care
Self-care is vital.
If you want to feel comfortable in your own skin, you must take care of it. Part of being true to yourself is knowing when you’re at your limits and need a break and how to recharge your energy.
Focusing on your physical and mental well-being will help you discover who you really are and will give you the energy and confidence to live authentically.
Pursue Your Passions
To be true to yourself, you must pursue what you want. Find out what makes your heart sing and go after it!
If you’re passionate about art, pick up a paintbrush and put something on canvas. If you’re passionate about helping people, find a volunteer organization and help them make an impact.
You can do thousands of little things to start following your passions, even if you aren’t getting paid (yet!) to do it.
Go out there and pave your way!
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