How to Be Yourself

People are always telling me to be myself. My mom, my dad, teachers, friends, extended family. But how? How do you be yourself when yourself may be like someone else?

Being yourself could be doing what you love no matter what others think of it, especially your friends. Our peers can make it difficult to do what we love when they see it as lame, uncool, or a waste of time. For example, I like debate, but my friends don't. 

Being yourself could be expressing your values no matter how uncool they may seem. Like refraining from drugs, swearing, or scandalous clothing. Or being honest (something a lot of people seem to lack).

In order to be yourself, you must first stop caring about what others think. It doesn't matter. When you care, you allow others to push you around and shape you. 

Second you must let your personality shine. Show the world who you are. Yell to the world, "I am [insert name], and I am proud to be [me, energetic, quiet, sappy, whatever you may be]." 

Finally, you must be confident in who you are and what you look like. People will tell your too fat, too skinny, or ugly. Just push that aside, because you are who you are and that's all that truly matters.

So next time someone tells you to be yourself, think about what that truly means.