Be Yourself

Be Yourself

Who are you? Really – at your very core – who are you? What are your interests, your tastes, your beliefs, your values? One of the most universal aspects of the human condition is the search for the answer to this question. Some discover it rather easily and early on. Others of us can take a lifetime figuring out what really makes us unique, special, and ourselves.

There are lots of words – labels – we give to the people who surround us, presumably to better “understand’ them. Beautiful. Plain. Smart. Ordinary. Eccentric. Classy. Athletic. Artsy. Folksy. Nerdy. Charismatic. What we often fail to realize, however, is that when we label the people in our lives, we are unable see the whole person – because there’s a lot more to any person than just one side. People are complex. You are complex. And wouldn’t it be limiting if people stuck a label on you and decided that was who you’d be, from this point forward?

Teens and adults alike struggle to balance their need to be themselves with their desire to fit in. We live in a world that embraces conformity. TV ads tell us that if we buy this grooming product, girls will like us. If we drink this soda, drive that car, use a particular cell phone, someone will think we’re sexy and want to get to know us better. Seriously? Doing the things that EVERYBODY ELSE is doing is really what’s going to make you appealing?

I disagree! I often joke in my presentations that I can’t help it that I’m so handsome. Am I really handsome? Guess what – it doesn’t matter what you think about me. It only matters what I think about me. And likewise, it only matters what you think about you. If you have red hair, celebrate your red hair! If you have freckles, rejoice in your freckles. If you have braces, smile at people and let them know you’re happy to be you.

Lady Gaga has a great song called “Born This Way.” Though some interpret it as an anthem in support of gay youth, the fact is that it’s a brilliant song we can all embrace because it gives us something so few us ever receive from the people from whom we need it the most: permission to be ourselves.

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

If you spend your life trying to make others happy – your parents, teachers, friends, girlfriend/boyfriend, church, gangs, clubs, employers – you will never truly be yourself and you will never truly be happy. The only way to live life to the absolute fullest is by being who you were meant to be. This means embracing the good and the bad, the fully developed and the things still unfolding, the lovely and the not so wonderful. You don’t have to add anything, subtract anything, do anything, or stop doing anything. You are perfect just the way you are.

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ALBERT MENSAH is a champion of opportunity and achieving one’s dreams. Rising from humble beginnings in Ghana, Africa, Albert has become one of the world’s leading student motivational speakers, regularly presenting to groups such as FCCLA, FFA, FBLA, DECA, 4-H, and numerous school assemblies and student council groups. Visit his website to book him to speak at your student assembly, career day, or state or national teachers’ conference.