Happy Valentines!
Sent to you with love from Geneva.
In a week that is very much focused on couples, I find myself thinking about what it means to be yourself. And by that, I’m not talking about being alone, being by yourself – I am talking about BEING yourself.
You see, in a world that pressures us all to conform, a world that is so judgemental, one of the biggest challenges we face, is to be ourselves.
There is no denying it. BEING YOURSELF and embracing who you truly are – takes courage.
Expressing ourselves authentically demands that we are brave enough to reveal who we truly are – sharing our uniqueness, our individuality, our flaws, insecurities, our beauty, our cravings, and our passions.
But if we don’t take the risk and step out from behind the masks that protects us from the world, then we run an even greater risk. We run the risk of spending our whole life trying to be someone we are not – while depriving others of what makes us most attractive to them – ourselves!
Only by becoming aware of the ways in which you currently ‘hide’ your truth from others, can you begin looking for the exit door to freedom and to become fully yourself in the world.
When you can be Yourself, you have nothing to hide, and you feel comfortable sharing openly about yourself. You don’t need to put energy into keeping things secret from others. Nor do you need to hide from others, any parts of yourself that you feel aren’t so attractive or that you struggle to improve. You share your humanity, your struggles, and your challenges as openly as you share your successes, because you are not concerned with impressing others; your only mission is being true to who you are and sharing who you are openly with those around you.
And let’s be honest – when you are yourself you are your most attractive. The sense of ease you feel with yourself helps puts others around you at ease. You can own your own beauty, your intelligence, and all the idiosyncrasies of your personality without needing to prove or deny any aspect of who you are. Being comfortable in your own skin, you radiate freedom, positive energy, and your love of life to those you encounter. You share your natural beauty with the world, not because you are vain, but because it is part of who you are.
When you are more comfortable being yourself, you can make more confident life choices.
You can make ‘feeling good’ a priority.
Here’s a few very simple suggestions to get you started.
Live in the present moment
The best way to feel happier about your life is to stop dwelling on the past and stop worrying about the future. BE in the present moment.
Be positive
Get in the habit of noticing the positive aspects of whatever situation you find yourself in.
No matter what you have, where you are, or who you’re with, your perception of your circumstances is more important than the circumstances themselves.
Consider this: at any given moment, there are other people in the world who have less money, less resources, and less loved ones than you do, and yet they are happier. Similarly, there are people who are richer than you, in better shape, and with more resources, who feel less fulfilled than you do. So get into the habit of noticing the positive aspects of your life.
Be grateful
Each day, be grateful for all the good things in your life. Make a point of listing five things every day that you are grateful for. Be thankful and you will feel less bitter about the things that you don’t have and more appreciative of the good things that happen each day and that can often be taken for granted.
Taking care of you
Look after yourself, both emotionally and physically.
We only have one body and we want it to last a long time. Keeping things inside emotionally is a major cause of stress and can lead to heart disorders and gastric problems. Release stress in a constructive manner.
Personally – I like to dance it off!
Stop criticizing yourself and those around you
Again, everybody has both positive and negative qualities; this is a universal fact. If you constantly focus on the negative qualities in those around you, then you will constantly feel frustrated and annoyed.
Get out of your comfort zone
Some people are more prone than others to get stuck in the comfort of routine and familiarity. Regardless of your inhibitions or fears of change, humans need variety to be happy. So try new things. Don’t be afraid to fail. Nothing ventured – nothing gained. Expand your thinking and you will expand your experience of life.
Don’t compare your own life with other peoples’ lives
Part of what makes people feel unhappy with their own lives is the comparison they make with the lives of those around them. If time spent on social media is causing destructive behaviour and comparison, it’s time to switch off.
Find your courage and be the jewel in your own life.
x Until next time, sending you love x
I would love to get to know you more, connect with me here.
