Remember to Always be yourself. Unless…

Remember to always be yourself. Unless you suck. –Joss Whedon

Always Be Yourself?

It’s funny when people tell you to “always be yourself.” How could you possibly be anybody else? Does that mean that you ought to just settle for being how you are instead of striving for greatness? It’s okay to be yourself, but if you aren’t where you want to be, then perhaps you should try something a little different.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
–Unknown

Living Up to Your Own Expectations

So if you start to think that you suck at life, that’s okay. It’s perfectly natural not live up to your own expectations, but let that be a motivator to strive for excellence. Be the best possible version of yourself. There’s always room to grow.

Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

In order to be the best possible version of yourself, it’s necessary to practice taking action in ways that may not feel comfortable. If you find yourself being lazy, do something about it! Social pressure can cause you to go into your shell. You have to make a conscious effort in the beginning to step outside your comfort zone until it becomes a habit. Talk to strangers. Be adventurous.

Comparing Yourself to Others

Comparing yourself to others is not healthy. It can lead to intense feelings of fear, anger or sadness. I think that’s one of the big reasons people say to always be yourself, but we don’t have to compare ourselves to others in order to learn from them. We can observe and admire someone without letting those feelings turn into envy or jealousy. Life is not a popularity contest.

Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself

Yes, it’s a good idea to be honest with yourself, and it’s good to admit when you are not as great as you want to be. However, don’t be discouraged by your current situation. Keep practicing to better yourself. You will never be perfect in every way, but you will learn to be better than you were yesterday.