Be yourself by any means necessary

What does it mean to lose yourself? Some people say, “I don’t know who I am anymore, I’ve lost my true self.” Upon closer inspection of those statements, someone may say “I’ve lost myself because I am no longer who I used to be, I’m acting out of character.” Aside from change (and acting out of character) being okay, sometimes saying “I’ve lost my true self” isn’t enough. It’s not enough because some people have never known who they were to begin with.

In a world where standing out has come to be synonymous with fitting in, many people are slaves to trends. Most obviously, trends in fashion and technology. But there are also trends in thinking. We have seen this shit everywhere throughout history from Nazis to Black Panthers, no one group or “race” is excluded from it. And Trends in thought can range from dictating what you think about a certain group of people to what you think about mojitos versus margaritas.

Maybe when people say, “I’ve lost my true self,” it means that they’re parting with the essence of who they are. Something that you acquire at an early age, or even before birth, that can’t be dressed, glittered up, technologically equipped, or subjected to diet pills. But many people are afraid to encounter their this “essence.” It’s not easy shedding off years of trying to conform and then not conform and then conform again and then not conform again.

THERE’S NOTHING TO FEAR! Keep the clothes, the iphones, and the Estee Lauder makeup! But release all of the baggage of being something you’re not. You’re the best at being yourself, which is something that no one else will ever, ever, be able to do. You’re beautiful, you’re bold, and you’re brave enough to be yourself. Be yourself by any means necessary.