A quote came up the other day – ‘You were born an original. Don’t die a copy’. This has stayed with me since reading it.
We live in a society that constantly tells us how the picture should be. Whether this relates to relationships, jobs, children, family, image or friends. There seems to be an endless list of expectations and rules.
There is so much pressure on people to conform to the ‘norm’. But what actually constitutes normality? After all – the most important thing is to be happy – and happiness is different for each and every one of us.
I see so many clients who feel so consistently not good enough. But this not good enough feeling comes from the pressure others place on them, and the pressure they place on themselves. To have the right size house, the right job, the right income, the right body, the right amount of children, the right partner, the right face – need I go on?
Who ever said that there is a right way to live or be? We don’t need to conform to what everyone else is doing. Ultimately this doesn’t lead to happiness. It leads to more pressure and more expectations. If we take a step back for a moment, slow down and reflect – then we may find what we are truly looking for.
Remember the importance of being an individual and remember to focus on who you are, and what you want and need. Don’t say yes to everyone because you want to please others and don’t constantly do what you think is expected of you. You are the author of your own book – and ultimately, the most important relationship we have, is the one we have with ourselves.
I often encourage clients to write a bucket list – what are the things that are important to them? What do they want to do before they die? Not what’s expected of them, but what they truly want to do. Another useful thing is to design a story board. Using pictures and words to create the dream that could be a reality. There are no limits. We can achieve anything we put our minds to.
When you look around you… who do you truly see as happy? Is it the person that conforms to expectations? Or is it the person who does what they truly want to do. Who is brave enough to stand out from the crowd and take a leap of faith? That person is the inspiring one…. because they are being who they truly want to be.
If you can be proud of who you are and happy in our own skin, then you will have a bright future. Remember to be proud, to be you and to be happy. You are beautiful inside and out. You don’t have to be perfect and nor does your life. You just have to do what makes you feel good.
Your life, your rules.