This is a really hard one.
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aybe not for everyone, but for me – this is something I struggle with every day. The green eye-d monster has gotten the best of me since I was a kid, and I’ve never really been able to shake it. I wanted to share this post so that if anyone else struggles with this like I do – they can relate a little, or maybe feel a little less alone. Staying true to myself is something I’m working on every day but man, are some days harder than others! Why is that?
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orking on staying true to myself has become my latest goal. I want to be able to appreciate what other people have, and move on. Rather than starting this hate-cycle which only leaves me wishing I was someone else, and picking myself apart. I was able to realise what I was doing was toxic to myself and completely unfair. So let’s get down to the nitty gritty of just exactly how I was not staying true to myself.
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ell for me, I am constantly comparing myself to others. It was so bad for a while that I actually just left social media, so I could be distraction free and not just scrolling and looking at profiles of people I wished I could be. It’s not that I don’t like myself, but for whatever reason – I’ve always thought other people were just somehow better. I wanted what they had, wanted to wear what they wore, and consistently criticized myself if I didn’t look enough like someone or if the outfit I re-created wasn’t as similar as theirs.
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t’s been so bad that sometimes I see photos of myself and I don’t even like them because I don’t look like the person I am currently envying. How messed up is that? But, we all have our flaws. Jealousy and comparison are definitely one of mine. Part of dealing with it was accepting it, and now I am learning from it, learning to love myself and working on it every day! Nobody – (and I do mean absolutely nobody) is perfect! But there is nothing wrong with that. We are only human!
Why I want to stay true – and why you should, too:
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he reason this is so important to me is that I know how it feels to be envious, or to feel like you aren’t living as amazing of a life as someone else. It feels like total shit and you can spiral pretty quickly. For that reason alone, both for myself and others – I’ve begun the process of staying true to myself. I still waver – nothing is fixed overnight. However, I’m doing things like posting more “real” looking shots on my Instagram and sharing with people when I am having a shitty day, or feel anxious, or over-all just am not living the “perfect” life.
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love amazing images and portrait photography, don’t get me wrong. I still love to play and create images like that – but I just want to go in a more “real” direction with the outfits that I share, or my day-to-day life. I’d like to use the professional images on my blog, because lord knows I love a beautiful website. However, on Instagram, where I am posting every day and sharing more of my life – I want to keep it real. Even if I only influence 15 people, it doesn’t make a difference. I want people to know who I really am and know my heart, not some facade that’s created with misleading people and false representation of what is happening in my day-today life.Not some facade that’s created with misleading people and a false representation of what is happening in my day-to-day life.
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ow do you stay true to yourself? Does it come easy, or do you struggle little like me? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear and connect with anyone who this resonates with!
There are no perfect solutions and we all get a bit “green” from time to time, but the main thing is to focus on yourself and learn to recognize how truly special YOU are. I am sure you are loved by family, friends, and others. Just don’t get distracted again by social media. I am sorry if any of that sounded “preachy!” ๐
So true! Thanks so much for reading!
This usually happens to me when life hits me from both sides. When Im Tired , exhausted, and run down. Sunday’s are my recharging days. Time to reflect , appreciate what I have and refocus on my life. Thanks for sharing.
I find that is a common denominaor for me as well! I love my Sunday’s for that too. Thanks so much for reading, I hope you have a great week!
Yes! And, of course, the other half of the formula is knowing our true selves. Without that we strive to be true to a false idea of who we are.
Wow you seem like such a beautiful person. Your authenticity is admirable. I can relate to everything you said- Iโd always look at people even those closest to me and just want the life that they had. It was only until I started being honest about who I was and my struggles that I started to love myself. Youโre very inspiring ๐ท
Wow girl! this made my whole week. This is so kind of you, thank you SO much!
I’ve always been a bit unique, and I love it. Sure, there are lots of times I’m a little envious of others, for a multitude of reasons, but, even so, I wouldn’t trade being me for anything. Everything I’ve done, good and bad, and everything I’ve experienced, has taught me lessons that I can share with others, so they learn from me the same as I learn from them. No one can be *everything* on their own. That’s why we need each other. We just do the best we can with ourselves, and there is no shame in simply being me. ๐
I could not agree more! Being unappologetically yourself is so incredibly important! There is only one person like you, and the world deserves to know that person!