The Choice to Be 'Yourself' to Shine as Your Authentic Self

Many of you have likely heard the phrase 'just be yourself,' haven't you?

In reality, what is so good about being yourself?

The greatest benefit of being yourself is that you don't have to lie to yourself.

When you no longer feel the need to force yourself to meet someone's expectations or put on a facade, your heart feels lighter.
And by lightening your heart, it becomes easier to make choices that are true to you, which in turn increases your sense of happiness.

Furthermore, being yourself has a positive impact on your relationships as well.

By showing your unadorned self, others will feel safe enough to show their true selves to you as well. As a result, you build deep, trusting connections rather than superficial ones.

How can you be yourself?

That said, even if you think, 'I want to be my authentic self,' many of you might not know how to actually achieve that, right?

I am often seen as calm and, if anything, cool.
That might be because I am not good at exposing my 'true self'.

Even when told to 'be yourself,' how do I do that?
That is what I used to think.

For those of you like that, here are three simple steps you can practice!

1. Know yourself

First, it is important to understand what kind of person you are.

What you like, what you are good at, what you dislike, and what makes you feel anxious.
Try writing these down on paper.

Knowing yourself is the first step to being your authentic self!

2. Start with small self-expression

It is difficult to reveal everything all at once.

Start by sharing just a little bit of your true feelings with friends or family.

Small acts of self-expression will gradually lead to confidence.

3. Don't aim for perfection

Being your authentic self does not mean you have to be 'perfect'.

It is important to accept yourself even when you fail or make mistakes.
By not aiming for perfection, you create peace of mind.

What kind of people find it difficult to be their authentic selves?

Like me, there are people who find it 'difficult to be their authentic selves'.
What kind of characteristics do such people have?

Caring too much about what others think
People who often suppress themselves because they worry about how others see them may find it difficult to be their authentic selves.

Being too hard on yourself
People who cannot forgive their own flaws and are always chasing an ideal of 'how things should be' are also prone to feeling resistance toward being their authentic selves.

Trapped by past experiences
Many people also build walls to protect themselves due to past failures or painful experiences.

Did any of these apply to you?
As I was writing this myself, I was talking to myself saying, 'This is it!! Exactly!'
haha

These things can be changed.
By gradually becoming kinder to yourself and practicing being free from the evaluations of others, you will be able to be your 'authentic self'.

Introduction of 'Recommended' Articles

Here, I will introduce three note articles themed around being your 'authentic self'.
By reading these articles, you should be able to get hints to think about this more deeply.

The difference between 'selfishness' and 'being your authentic self'

miyo who swallowed the stars's article

When I found it difficult to be my authentic self, I used to wonder, 'Is this just being selfish?'
I had that experience in the past.

miyo who swallowed the stars's articleclearly summarizes the difference between being your authentic self and being selfish. And it is a wonderful article that made me agree with the word 'consideration'.

Boost your self-esteem! Accepting your 'authentic self' with Zen teachings [The secret of self-improvement learned from Zen]

422 yasu's article

In this article, for those struggling with self-esteem, we introduce ways to accept your 'authentic self' while utilizing Zen teachings.

It is sprinkled with hints that can be easily practiced in daily life, and the simple and easy-to-continue approach, such as focusing on the 'here and now', is particularly attractive.

Some people might think, 'Are Zen teachings difficult?'
but422 yasu's article is very easy to understand, easy to visualize, and a wonderful article.

I want to value being my authentic self more than my anxieties

n.life's article

I am writing this while thinking about similar things. I read through it from the beginning with a sense of empathy.

Worrying about what others think, binding myself with thoughts like 'I must write well' or 'It must have meaning,' and as a result, suppressing my self-expression.
But you notice things when you look at various people's articles, don't you?

It is a wonderful article that makes you realize the value of being 'authentic,' as it realistically depicts the appeal of deep human relationships gained by showing your true self rather than superficial relationships or a 'fake self'.

Miyo who swallowed the stars-san
422 yasu-san
n.life-san

Thank you for the wonderful article.

Thinking that it's okay to be 'authentic' might not be easy for everyone.
But, by reading the article, you can feel it.
Why not start from something like that?

Conclusion

Being your authentic self is not easy, but it is possible for anyone. And it will lighten your heart, deepen your connections with those around you, and make your life richer.

Why not take the first step toward 'cherishing yourself'?

If you are struggling alone, please find some companions.
By talking with people who can empathize with you, you will be able to gradually accept your own 'authentic self'.

I would be happy if you could feel even a little bit of the value of being 'authentic' through this article.

Please check out the note articles I introduced as well.
And, why not take a step that is uniquely yours starting today!