If I’m honest with myself I can struggle with this. To just be myself. I can remind a friend to do this much more easily than I care to remind myself. I don’t hang out in this space as much anymore because I’ve learned a few times too many that trying to be someone I’m not is mostly exhausting, largely unfulfilling, and very self-defeating,  

It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Just be yourself. Yet we can make it so complicated. Sometimes just showing up and being ourselves is difficult enough, so why do we choose to put even more pressure on ourselves by trying to be someone we’re not? We think we may impress, wow, or attract someone by trying to be someone else. And yet deep down, I believe that authenticity is where real attraction lies. We can also fall prey to trying to live up to others’ expectations or the expectations we perceive others have of us. Beating ourselves up for not meeting or exceeding the often unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves can also entice us down the path of trying to be someone we’re not. Have you ever caught yourself wishing you were someone else, wondering what it would be like to be “him ” or “her” or anyone but “you?” Not proud to admit it, but been there, done that.  

We weren’t designed to be anyone else. We were actually created to be our own unique selves. And there’s a reason we’re each designed differently. What if we spent more time recognizing and utilizing our own unique strengths, skills interests, talents, personality, etc. instead of wishing we had someone else’s?  If this was the case, wouldn’t we all be living more in line with our full potential? I don’t know about you, but I want to make a difference in my life. And you and I can’t do that wasting time trying to be someone else.