In this society, staying true to yourself is more complicated than ever. This statement might seem like a blatant lie, as these are the most progressive times humanity has ever witnessed. But people are more connected than ever, so gossip and lies spread faster. It’s also way too easy to ruin people’s lives with just a few clicks. In fact, there are many ways to make someone feel awful about who they are. And, because of that, it can seem easier not to live your truth at all.
Because we wish others like us, we mold ourselves to become someone we’re not. If something is trendy, people will want to do it. So, we keep following what others want us to do instead of becoming who we should be. This reality is potentially the saddest life someone could have.
Never genuine, never delighted, simply following the lead of other people who are brave enough to be themselves. This sad situation is because we don’t understand the value of being true to ourselves. But there’s no shame in being lost and not knowing how to live your truth. It would help if you were willing to take the first step to learn how to be more authentic. When you understand that, you’ll be happier than ever before.
3 Reasons to Stay True to Yourself
1 – You Get to Know Yourself When You Stay True to Yourself
As a human, you can’t live your life to the fullest potential if you don’t know who you are. Identity is a big part of someone’s happiness. It’s something people have struggled with for centuries. All the human rights marches, all the protests, they were all so that people could be proud of their identity. Some people protested for their gender rights because they wanted to be allowed to own who they were. And examples like this are scattered throughout human history. Still, as time passes, people seem to know less and less about who they are.
Often, this is because we see how important identity is. Because of that, we are scared we won’t be allowed to show it. And not being able to be who we truly are is scary. But what most people don’t realize is that, usually, they are the ones who don’t allow themselves to be true to themselves. Sure, there’s still a long way to fight for people’s rights. But, often, if you were true to yourself, no one would bat an eyelash.
Not knowing who you are is much more hurtful than being judged. When you know who you are, you at least know what you want and can stand up for yourself. Otherwise, you are vulnerable and find it hard to fulfill your potential. As you understand all your emotions, you will find navigating all the criticisms and hate easier. You’ll start to care more about what you think rather than how others view you, and you’ll understand who you truly are.
2 – When You Are True to Yourself, You Can Find Your True Purpose
Extending on the previous point, one of the best reasons to stay true to yourself is because you can find your true potential. When you live your truth and understand who you are, you can know what you must do. Too often, people do things because they believe they should do them. But not because they genuinely want to or find purpose doing them. For example, you might attend law school because your parents have raised you to want that.
But that doesn’t mean practicing law will make you truly happy. You might believe that’s your purpose. You might even want it to be. But you’d be lying to yourself if you did it because others expected you to. Of course, you can still have a decent life by doing what others want you to. But you’ll understand your true purpose only by being entirely true to yourself.
You’ll understand your passions and what kind of life you want to live. You’ll have a goal and be motivated to work towards it. When you choose the right path for you, there’s no such thing as an utter failure. Even if you do stumble, you’ll want to persevere. Your life will feel like it’s yours, not someone else, and you have complete control over it. But, most importantly, being true to yourself will help you let go of all the negative buzz around you.
3 – Your Life Will Be Easier if You Remain True to Yourself
A big part of being true to yourself is learning to love and accept yourself the way you are. Everyone has flaws and imperfections. There’s nothing wrong with having them as long as you choose to accept them and try to be better every day. After all, living your truthful and authentic life means embarking on a journey of self-actualization.
Even if you want to become a better person, you’ll find that your life will become much more manageable. You’ll learn to accept yourself without worrying about what others think. When that happens, you’ll find that all your decisions will be much easier to make. You’ll do whatever you want without worrying about what others say. When your choices become better, so does your life.
You won’t be trapped doing things you resent; instead, you’ll live freely. You’ll attract better people because you’ll stop putting up with bad friends to have them. Overall, you’ll make better decisions. And your choices will be made for you, not to please others. That’s why your life will be happier because you won’t be afraid to live authentically.
3 Ways to Live Your Truth
1 – When You Live Your Truth, You Will Learn to Love Yourself
If you want to live your truth, you need to learn how to love and accept yourself just the way you are. It’s essential to understand that imperfections are normal. If you feel bad about having flaws, don’t beat yourself down. Instead, to things that improve who you are: practice self-care and self-improvement. Go to the gym, read a book, and learn something new.
It would be best if you also stopped beating yourself up all the time. Try to overcome negative perceptions about yourself by remembering to be kind. Don’t call yourself bad names, and don’t be overly critical of yourself. Stop comparing yourself to others.
Living your truth means being happy with yourself and accepting yourself. Stay positive if you still want to achieve more, even if you think you could be better. Know that you’ll be able to achieve everything you want. Still, who you are right now is enough.
2 – Live Your Truth According to Your Values
Being true to yourself means learning to respect your values and living according to them. Don’t let people force their values onto you. Just because people believe in being individualists doesn’t mean you should do the same. Just because someone thinks you are too young to find love doesn’t mean they’re right. You are the only one who knows what’s good for you. Sure, friends and family can help you find the right path. But you are the only one who truly understands your emotions and values.
But to live according to your values means to understand what your values are. It’s helpful to take some time to reflect. Sometimes, meditation and mindfulness exercises help. Even something as simple as sitting down with your eyes closed and focusing on your senses can connect you to your body.
You’ll be more in tune with your feelings, thoughts, and emotions. This kind of introspection can help you understand what your values are. And, as soon as you make a clear list, you can start living according to them. Then, let go of the things that don’t fit those values. Those might be people, objects, or your hobbies or job.
3 – Live in the Present to Live Your Truth
To stay true to yourself, remember that all you have is the present. You can’t be living in the past, and you can’t love for the future. The present is the only time you can be happy and fulfill your dreams. Sure, making plans for the future is always good, and learning from the past is also good. But don’t get stuck in the past. And don’t love so that you can fulfill a dream.
Every day is an experience and an opportunity to be happy. You can’t be satisfied in the present or the future. But you can be happy right now. So, if you want to do something, no matter how crazy, do it. You are more likely to regret not doing something than doing it. Let go of toxic people, even if you think they might be helpful at some point. Having them around is not worth it if they constantly bring you down.
The same goes for bad jobs or hobbies. Don’t do something just because it might turn out well in the future. For example, don’t become a doctor if you have a queasy stomach, even if you think it will pay well. Sure, the job is prestigious, but it’s not worth doing something you hate. Instead, always do things because you genuinely love them. And remember to be present. Do what you love, and never apologize for it.
Final Thoughts on Reasons to Stay True to Yourself and Ways to Live Your Truth
Being true to yourself is never easy. It takes courage to be authentic. People will judge you and try to bring you down. But the thing is, people are going to do that anyway. If they are mean-spirited, they will be like that, no matter how “perfect” you might be. So, you must learn to let go of that and finally know yourself.
When you are true to yourself, you have the opportunity to learn who you are. You get in tune with your emotions and desires. You can understand your purpose and what you want to do. Your life will be much easier and filled with happiness. To live your truth, you must learn to love and accept yourself. You need to live according to your values and stay present. Don’t ever do anything on other people’s accounts. Just allow yourself to be who you are and see how good your life gets.