Do you ever find yourself feeling a bit out of touch and unfocused throughout the day? When you make weekend plans, do you suggest where to go, or do you follow along with the majority vote? While sacrificing your own wants and needs for the sake of others can be an admirable quality, you shouldn’t lose sight of who you are in the process.
Staying true to yourself and discovering who you are means that you’re a little selfish every once in a while, and that’s okay. Being yourself can actually increase your overall happiness in the long run. Here are just a few ways being yourself can make you happier and help you break out of your sedentary lifestyle one for all.
Do more of what you love
People who are in touch with who they are aren’t afraid to speak up when it comes to making plans. As you begin to put your own wants and desires first, you’ll find it easier to make time for the things you love to do. The smoothie you’re sipping when you really wanted a milkshake? Stop drinking it and get that milkshake.
That ski trip you’re dreading? Don’t go. Being yourself means being honest about doing the things that make you happy along with pursuing your passions. There’s nothing wrong with doing things that are out of your comfort zone, just as long as you still make time for the things that make you happy as well. If you can find a balance between sacrificing your wants and also scheduling in a day of what brings you bliss, you’ll find yourself much happier at the end of the day.
If you love to travel, find more time to do it, and don’t let your jam-packed schedule hold you back. Traveling is an excellent way to heal, become a better person, and evolve.
Be more decisive
Keeping tabs on your likes and dislikes also means that you don’t have time to be wishy washy. When you start everyday with the promise to be yourself, you’ll be more confident in each and every decision you make. The happiness that comes from being a more decisive person is incredibly freeing. Imagine how much less you would worry about your daily decisions if you were confident in yourself to make bold, unapologetic, choices. Make it a point to notice the things you’d rather be doing or the outfits you wish you had the confidence to wear.
Every time you feel like you’re about to change your mind, remember to think about your initial gut decision and stick to it. The more in touch with yourself that you are, the more you’ll be able to differentiate between the things that make you happy, and the things that simply don’t.
Feel more confident in your own shoes
If you’re someone who struggles with being yourself, becoming more decisive and putting the things that you want to do first doesn’t just happen overnight. As you start to put these steps into practice, your confidence will begin to flourish. Confident people are also happier people. Allow the things that make you who you are fuel your confidence. Keep in mind that purchasing anything from a vibrant, one of a kind jacket, to sporting brand new kicks, to rocking a new hair color can bring about some extra confidence.
Search for changes in your life that enable you to be yourself. Changing up your appearance with a bright new hair color can be just the perfect way to celebrate and exude confidence, both internally and externally! If you’re not interested in switching up your hair color, look towards other companies and/or products who fully embody confidence and celebrate you for who you are. Online clothing company, Asos is a great example of this as they offer beautiful, stylish clothes for both men and women of all sizes.
Make more time for the people who matter
Embracing your own unique qualities may not always be something other people can get behind. Developing confidence and decisiveness can force the toxic people in your life to feel threatened by your newfound self-dependency. If or when this occurs, be sure to embrace this change positively.
Weeding out the toxic people in your life will allow you to make time to spend with the people who matter; the people who like and appreciate the real you. Make sure you express gratitude towards the people in your life who make you feel this way. The people who stick around and value the person that you are will also motivate you to keep being yourself. Surrounding yourself with those special people who encourage you and build you up will do wonders for your happiness!
Even though we all have a tendency to get wound up in our daily responsibilities, jobs, etc. making time for the people who make you feel the best will pay off for your self-confidence and self-esteem in the long run. The weekends are normally the best opportunities to make time for the special people in your life. Whether it’s a Sunday dinner, meeting up for drinks or enjoying brunch together, spending even just a little bit of time with those you love the most will make you the happiest and best version of yourself.
Reclaim your life
Lastly, the final and perhaps most beneficial side effect of being yourself is the fact that you’ll be able to take back your life into your own hands. People who lose track of themselves are much more susceptible to also losing control of their own lives. Actively pursuing yourself will allow you to reclaim all of the little things in your life that you felt you had no power over.
While you don’t have control over all of the things that happen to you, you do have the power to keep consistent in who you are. Feeling as though you’re the captain of your own ship will bring both stability and happiness into your life.
When you start to feel as though something is missing in your life, take a moment to reflect on if what’s actually missing is yourself. If you’re trying to achieve happiness without first identifying who you really are, you most certainly are not going to get very far.
