I can't believe that I'm finally just realizing this. Just be yourself. That's all that really matters.
I'm going to try to put into words a major epiphany I had, it's gonna be hard. This might not make sense, so brace yourselves.
Just. Be. Yourself. Three simple words that can shape your lives.
At elevation last week (an amazing leadership camp I went to that I will post about later) we learned about walls. In our lives we put up walls, and wear masks to hide an insecurity or something. They asked us to share our the walls we put up and the masks we wear. I'm going to share that right now. When they asked it I really had no idea what mine where, but then it hit me; I change my personality and wear "masks" to hide who I really am because I'm afraid that people won't accept me for who I am or don't like me. Basically, I'm never really my true self.
Elevation was really eye opening. You can't wear makeup, and your hair is always a mess. But, no one was judging you for that, no one cared. You could be yourself, and they accepted you for it.
For so long I have put up walls, worn masks, and hidden who I am. Tried to be somebody else, because, I thought that I would be accepted if I was what the world called "normal."
As humans we look at other humans, particularly those who have more than us, those who are popular, socially accepted, or famous, etc and think, "they have an iPad and I don't.....they're skinny.....they've been to Hawaii......they have more Facebook friends than I......their hair always seems so perfect......" and it goes on and on and on.
We strive to be socially accepted. We want to be "normal."
For most of my life I've wanted so badly to be "normal." I'm homeschooled, I'm a mormon and so many other things. For so long I hated everything about that. I tried to hide it. Cover it up. Tried to be normal. I hid my true self because I just wanted to be "normal." I wanted to be accepted. I just wanted to be like everyone else. Me wasn't like everyone one else....it was....well me.
WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?! Why try to fit in when I was born to stand out?
Hi. My name is Wesleigh Elizabeth Smith. I have blue eyes, brown curly hair. I'm not a super model. I'm just me. I'm homschooled. But at least I wasn't stuck in a smelly school for 8 hours a day. I'm a mormon. Without it I don't know where I'd be. I don't live in a mansion. I have cows, and sometimes I have to milk them. I'm kinda weird. Or maybe I'm just me. I was born a daughter of God. I was born me.
Me is not based on what is socially accepted or "normal." Me is based on who I am.
There are like seven billion people in the world. Can you imagine.....how utterly boring it would be if we were all the same? Um yuck.
I've spent my life hiding who I am. Trying to be someone else. Not anymore.
I've spent it wanting to be like someone else. Not anymore. I want to be me.
Guys. I don't know who is reading this. But if you get anything out of this. I just want to tell you this....
Just be yourself. Do you know how awesome you are? You were born to be YOU. You were born to stand out because everyone is unique. You are infinite. You were created by a heavenly being. You didn't evolve from apes. Wow. You have a life ahead of you. Don't waste it faking your way through life. Be an original. You is all you need to be. You don't need to be someone else. You don't need to be accepted. Who cares what people think. You're not weird. You're just you. Don't hide yourself from others, you're awesome, give them a chance to get to know how awesome you are. Just. Be. Yourself.
^^this is my favorite book. Seriously^^
I Like Myself
by: Karen Beumount
"I like myself. I'm glad I'm me.There's no one else I'd rather be. I like my eyes, my ears, my nose. I like my fingers and my toes.I like me wild. I like me tame. I like me different and the same. I like me fast. I like me slow. I like me everywhere I go. I like me on the inside, too, for all I think and say and do. Inside, outside, upside down, from head to toe and all around, I like it all! It all is me! And me is all I want to be. And I don't care in any ways what someone else may think or say. I may be called a silly nut or crazy cuckoo bird-so what? I'm having too much fun, you see, for anything to bother me!Even when I look a mess, I still don't like me any less, 'cause nothing in this world you know, can change what's deep inside, and so...No matter if they stop and stare...no person. ever. anywhere. can make me feel that what they see is all there really is to me. I'd still like me with fleas or warts, or with a silly snout that snorts, or knobby knees or hippo hips or purple polka-dotted lips, or beaver breath or stinky toes or horns protruding from my nose, or- yikes!-with spikes all down my spine, or hair that's like a porcupine. I still would be the same, you see. I like myself because I'm ME!"That is my favorite book. I got it when I was like.....7-ish? I have it memorized. I would read it pretty much everyday......it's always by my bed and I read it a lot.
It has pretty much been my motto in life. *smile* My motto that I haven't stuck to.
At elevation we had solo time. You're all alone in nature for four hours. I came to realize that when away from all the worldly things, and such, you really connect with your center. The core of who you are. Aside from basing your wants and who you are off others and stuff, you come to realize what it is that you really want it life and who you really are. It's amazing.
I've made it a goal to get away from the stress of life, away from others, and all the hogwash and just connect with myself. Discover who I really am and what I really want. I encourage you to do the same. It's amazing what you'll learn about yourself.
After such a long time of denying who I am, I'm finally discovering myself. It's pretty great.(:
Always remember to be yourself! Love yourself. Love life. Make every second count. Be happy. *smile*
I love you all! Thanks for reading. :D
