Be You

I am me.

You are you.

She is she.

He is he.

We are all different. We all have our own identities, characteristics, perspectives, beliefs, abilities, passions, relationships, dreams, goals, idols— everything. We all have our own “everything” because we are all unique. We may look like someone physically but on the inside, and as a whole, we are all 100% unique. We all have different makeups that we bring to the table. We are all human beings living on a round object, floating through the universe, at the same time. We are all individuals so we should not try and be anyone else. Be you, and I will be me.

Recently in human development, through the use of technology, we are more easily and constantly interconnected with people around the world than ever before. At a click of a button, we are able to view models from Australia, athletes from Germany, artists from Japan, normal people on vacation—everything. Everything and anyone is accessible at the touch of a button. This ease of use has destroyed self-images around the world. Now more than ever before, people are unhappy with who they are. They see picture-perfect snapshots of the lives of others and internalize emotions where their own perception of themselves deteriorates. This is a shame because everyone brings something to the table. It is not okay to just be different, it is a requirement. It is a requirement because we are all unique. Unique thoughts, actions, perspectives, and ideas run the world. They drive innovation and spur societies’ development along. Humans need to focus less on conforming to what others are doing or what others look like, and instead lean into their individual beauties.

Sometimes the hardest battle we have is convincing ourselves we are good enough. It is a fight to convince the internal dialogue in our minds that we are capable, that we can. Without belief in ourselves, we are not only handicapped, we are handcuffed to the realm of what we have already done. We will always hold ourselves back in the game of life because of our internal doubt. A message to drill into our minds is that there is absolutely zero shame associated with being who we are. Through an acceptance of who we are individually, we unlock near-unlimited potential to act and pursue what we want to in life. By accepting who we are, we no longer focus on what others think about us and freely pursue. By just being “you,” we are free.