Be True To Yourself - Guest Blogger
Be Yourself – There’s No One Better Qualified Whoever said, Be yourself – There is no one better qualified, hit upon a really important point. We all need to be unique and true to who we really are. While we are all bombarded with images and messages from television, social media, magazines telling us how we should dress, what we should do, and even what we should say, it’s important to step back and focus on being the only thing we are qualified to be – Ourselves “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde Make a list of ten things that set you apart from others. It might be the color of your hair, the way you can whistle, how well you can climb a tree, run or jump. It might be the way you can write or draw, or how good you are at being a friend. These ten things are only a small part of who you really are. However, they are a great place to start. When we begin to think about ourselves all too often we look at the negative aspects of what we look like. We begin to compare ourselves with others: Oh, I’m not as tall as her. I’m fatter, skinnier, more freckled… the list is endless. You will never be satisfied if you constantly compare yourself with someone else. You may never think you are as good as anyone else because you aren’t meant to. You are you – unique and special, different, similar, but never the same. “Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.” ― Judy Garland Judy Garland hit it right on the head when she said this. If you try to be like someone else you’ll never succeed. Instead, you’ll only create a second rate version of yourself which no one will like. Being yourself is about being authentic and honest with who you are. “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” Maya Angelou Maya Angelou knew the pain of being a black woman living in a racist culture. She also understood what it meant to accept oneself for you are. We can’t control others. Nor do we have much control over events which affect us. But we do have the power to control how we react to them. We can be empowered and strengthened by negative events or we can be reduced by them. Choosing to be empowered is not an easy path to take. It takes determination and perseverance. It may mean standing up for yourself and defending others who are not as empowered as you. It may take guts and fortitude, but you know what? These qualities are in you. They make up a good part of you, and they are what makes you special. Go on be yourself, there is no one better qualified.
About My Guest - Susan Day Susan Day is an author of 15 books, educator, and a content marketer. Her blog, Astro’s Adventures Book Club, is full of ideas and tips for grandparents who want to build a strong relationship with their grandchildren. In particular, Susan specializes in helping grandparents share their love of books with their grandchildren. Susan is currently writing a book titled, The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing! Susan lives in country Australia with four dogs, three boss cats, three rescue guinea pigs, and an errant kangaroo. And, apart from blogging, writing and reading; she loves drinking coffee, painting and learning to box.
