5 Ways To Stay True To Yourself

These days when every aspect of our lives are online and out in public for the world to see, it’s difficult to stay true to yourself. We often find ourselves instead trying to fit into the mold of what we think others want us to be. I don’t need to tell you that this is a horrible way to go through life. One of the keys to living a happy life is remembering to stay true to yourself.

Stand Up For Your Beliefs

Far too often, people don’t stand up for what they believe in. Instead, they tend to go along with what others think, either because they want to fit in with their peers, or because they want to avoid a disagreement with a friend or a romantic partner. In order to stay true to yourself, you should always stand up for what you believe in, especially if you know that you are right. Remember the saying, “what is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular.”

Don’t Use Others As A Crutch

This mainly applies to relationships, but it’s also good advice for friendships. You should never rely entirely on others to make you happy. It’s okay to find joy in the relationships that you cultivate with others, but don’t use people as an emotional crutch. What happens when that crutch disappears and you’ve never learned to walk on your own? You’ll come crashing down. Remember the things that you like about yourself.

Allow Yourself To Feel

You should always allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling. People tend to repress their emotions, rather than allowing themselves to feel. They do this usually because they want to appear calm and in control, rather than emotional and weak. Showing emotion is considered to be a sign of weakness, but the opposite is true. There is nothing wrong with showing emotion, so long as you’re not ruled by them. Allowing yourself to show emotion should be a sign of strength. Stay true to your emotions and to yourself.

Be Honest With Others

Honesty is always the best policy, so they say. You should always be honest with people, even when the truth might hurt them. If you truly care about the people in your life, then they deserve your respect and your honesty. This doesn’t mean that you should go out of your way to hurt people with your words, like telling your friend that her new dress makes her look like a walrus, or tell your mom that she sucks at cooking. Being honest with people is not the same as being tactless.

Remember That Your Needs Are Important Too

It’s wonderful to be selfless and put other people’s needs before yours, but don’t do it all the time. Remember that you are a person with needs and desires like everyone else, and sometimes it’s okay to put yourself first. If a friend wants you to come over and help her through a break up, but you have a test the next day, it’s okay to say “no I can’t tonight”. Offer your support any other way you can, like offering to come over after you’ve taken your test. When you never put yourself first, people tend to start using you.

How do you remember to stay true to yourself? Share in the comments!

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