Be Authentic; Be You
People may be able to replicate what you do, but not who you are. In this present world, a lot of people are trying to fit in, but being your original you is a very courageous thing to do. You will be surprised how many people spend their lives trying to look or imitate someone else, follow a trend, or even hide who they are just because they want to feel accepted. I overheard someone telling someone else that the people in her group does not know that she is from a particular village in the country. She created the impression that she is from somewhere else just to feel belonged. What she did not understand is that she was not created to hide under someone's shadows or to be a copy of someone, but to be unapologetically herself. Living your true self unlocks the true potentials in you.
When you have recognised who you are and live in the consciousness, there is a peace of mind and freedom that comes with it. It does not mean that you are faking to be perfect, rather it means that you have recognised your strengths, your gifts, your values, your belief, and even your weaknesses. The world may want to push you to pretend, but by being real, you tend to stand out. That is, you will neither refuse to shrink yourself in order to make someone feel comfortable, nor squeeze yourself to fit into a standard. Being authentic also means walking in your own path even when it may not be the same with someone else's own. As a matter of fact, you are not mandated to do what everyone else is doing, but do what you are built for without the need for external validation.
The power of being real and authentic has a way of multiplying your efforts and your effectiveness. Trust me, you cannot fully fulfill your purpose if you are trying to be like someone else. Everyone has their individual purpose to fulfill. It is by being on your own track and doing what you need to do, that will make you fulfill yours. A fish does not have to fly to prove a point to the bird. A bird does not need to swim in order to feel belonged. The fish is not designed for flight, neither is the bird designed for the water. Each of them will function well when they do what they are built for. When you are authentic and do what you are built for, you will experience ease.
One of the major reasons why some people experience difficulties in what they do is because they want to be like someone else, or they want to do what they are not cut out for. Imagine a bird trying to dive inside the water like a fish and swim, it will experience extreme difficulties. When you see yourself having a lot of friction in what you are doing, or you discover that you are not experiencing ease in what you do, then you need to check it, because you may be trying to live someone else's life. You cannot run in the track meant for someone else and expect to win. It is true that you can be inspired by someone's success, but you should not try to live in their shadows.
It is worthy to note that being authentic or being real does not mean being rude or being mean to someone. For the fact that you are being yourself is not a call to exhibit unwholesome character. So also try to portray yourself in good light, be good to people, have a positive attitude, respect people and also respect their own hustles and their life's journey. That someone is doing something different from you does not invalidate what they are doing, neither does it mean that they are doing badly. Everyone must not do the same thing because everyone has their own different destinies to fulfill. So do your own part to be unique and authentic, after all, two truths can exist side-by-side.
Always remember that you do not need anyone's permission in order to be who you are. The sun does not need permission to shine, the river do not need permission to flow, so be authentic without looking for external validation. Do not dim your light to fit in, but stand out and be outstanding. Be bold, be real, be genuine, and be authentic. The world does not need a photocopy but an original.
Thanks for reading
