Bee Yourself

By: Clara Adkins PhD, LGPC

     We have all heard of the phrase “be yourself” throughout our lives. Although we seem to be aware of this phrase sometimes the value and meaning behind it gets lost in the weeds. Being yourself seems like a simple task to accomplish but for some reason it is difficult to live by. When we were children, we found it easier to explore our imaginations and just be our authentic selves but as we develop, we begin to chase external sources of validation (e.g., status, fame, money and power) without realizing that it drives us further away from our true nature. By the time we acknowledge that we have lost touch with ourselves, we realize the soul journey back to our genuine essence is a challenging endeavor that many of us are too afraid to take. 

     It is important to remember that when we are genuine and acting out of a place of our own inner light, we are doing our best to create the type of world worth living in. It can be scary to remove our masks but the rewards in doing so can be extraordinary. These authentic actions help us to realize our potential and purpose in this life. If we are constantly trying to chase external awards that do not relate to us on a soul level, we miss out on the abundant blessings that can only come to us when we are being who we truly are. It is easy to get distracted and inundated by all of our adult responsibilities and it can be tempting to follow paths that are not truly meant for us. However, we need to remember to be ourselves in this world, and by doing so we can light the way for others to feel brave enough to do the same.