The Enemy of “Me”
The power of self-perception in shaping the world you see
One of the expectations of being an adult is having to figure out who you are.
Within a matter of years, you are expected to know which career field you have decided to grow in, have a set 5-to-10 year plan, know when you will get married/if you want to get married, and the list continues.
You try to manage the expectations of society, friends, and family members, and in the process lose sight of your own needs and desires.
For many people, being an adult has meant sacrificing hopes and dreams to achieve symbols of success.
As you assume the role of adult, there is an underlying expectation to let go of certain aspects of who you are because you believe they will not fit in or assist you in being successful.
You put aside the activities you love (but supposedly won’t get you far), and those that made you believe you were truly unique.
In turn, you decide to settle for a safe but unfulfilling life, trapped in a system that won’t accommodate your child-like curiosity.
Seeing grown people who have nurtured and maintained their authenticity is a rare thing. Maybe it is because being unapologetically YOU takes a lot more courage than maintaining a self-image.
Who you think you are matters. It matters because you cannot manifesf a life that is above and beyond what you believe is true about yourself.
This means when you define yourself as being a certain way, whether intentionally or unintentionally, it becomes difficult to experience a reality different from that.
Consider what it has cost you to be who you are today. Think about what you have had to let go of, or abandon, to achieve the lifestyle you are currently living.
Now think about the behaviors and traits you have had to learn to fit in or achieve the kind of success you now have.
If you are at peace with what you have had to let go of, and at peace with what you have had to learn, then my friend you are living a life that feels good (even if it may not always look good).
But if you find that you miss old parts of yourself or that the “new you” doesn’t feel as genuine as the “old you,” then you may notice a disconnect or feeling of indifference toward your life.
I’ll repeat it again: Who you think you are matters. Your beliefs and values are supposed to help you express your authentic self, not support the superficial version of you.
Strive to connect to your authentic self and let go of any thought, belief, or behavior that seeks to distance you from who you are.
Feeling at home in your body and being at peace with your life is far more important than living an unsatisfactory life.
