Be True To Yourself

Young adulthood is a very perplexing time, one that can be filled with frustration and fear. Part of the reason is because we are plagued by uncertainty from within. We always want to do things, but we don’t seem to have the courage because of an underlying fear or a lack of self-confidence. We are also constantly worried about what other people will think of us. But is this helpful in the long run for developing who we truly are as authentic individuals?

Young adulthood can be such a wonderful time, if only we stop trying to be someone we’re not. However, this is easier said then done, given our culture of conformity. With practise and courage, however, we can move away from conformance to nonconformist by developing a few new habits and mind shifts. Young adulthood can be celebrated as a new beginning, instead of something feared and even dreaded.

Autonomy is sometimes referred to as authenticity. It is about acting in harmony with our innermost being and connecting with what we do with who we are. In other words, our actions should reflect your core values and beliefs and express some part of our innermost self. Unfortunately, in our world, there is more emphasis on external rewards over internal fulfillment and meaning. Too many of us have lost the idea that we need this to be true to ourselves.

Therefore, authenticity and genuineness are very rare qualities to practise today. Part of the reason may be cultural and societal. We are always going and doing at alarming speeds. It is important to note that we were not created for such speed and our mind can’t keep up. But more importantly we can’t be true to ourselves if we are moving at an alarming speed. We can’t be reflective or intentional about our actions and many of us have no idea what our defining values and beliefs are. As a result, we are disconnected from our true selves.

Further, if we are not authentic, we lack a sense of control over the outcome of our efforts and the ability to make progress over time. If we don’t believe that our efforts will be rewarded with improvement, why put any effort at all. It is easier perhaps to do very little or nothing. In other words, if we don’t feel like we are improving and becoming more excellent as individuals why continue and try to keep excelling? Competency fills one of our innate desire’s for tangible progress which is linked back to our actions.

Our young adult years are the true beginning our lives. Each new year offers us new opportunities. Each new season of our lives also offers new ways to explore our environment and everything in it, such as when and where we anticipate going for holidays or which neighborhood we should move into. Further, we may think of all the things we want to do, the places we want to visit, and times we want to spend with our family and friends.

These are such exciting times in our lives. But they can be plagued by anxiety and frustration too. There always seems to be something that can turn our summer into a drudgery, such as if our best friend steals our boyfriend or our dream job doesn’t work out. Such experiences can hurt us deeply and undermine our self-esteem if we are not emotionally resilient.

My hope is that after reading this book you will be able to develop more inner resilience and live an authentic life as well as be strong enough to face the life challenges in your life as they arise. Being authentic means living from a real place. It is when or actions and words are congruent with your beliefs and values. Therefore, living in an authentic manner means being true to yourselves and not being an imitation of what you think you should be according to societal standards.

In this book, I’ll show how to develop your inner core step-by-step, habit-by-habit, and action-by-action. You no longer need to feel as frustrated or scared. You can not only live but thrive and enjoy the best part of your life now.

Although my focus in Be True to Yourself is the younger adult ages twenty-one onwards, this is a book for everyone. Regardless of your age, my book will encourage you to become more inwardly resilient. You are truly wonderful to God, just as you are. He sees nothing but your best qualities. And since you were born and made in the image of God, you should base your primary idea of who you are on Him.

Therefore, your task is to discover who you are meant to be in God’s image and likeness. And you can only discover who you are by turning inward and examining your character traits, beliefs, and values. This can require some turning inward and soul searching at first. But as you take the time to discover the unique person God made you to be, you will realize just how wonderful you really are. Each of us have unique gifts to share with the world.

So, what does it mean to be true to yourself? In a nutshell, it means to discover which values and character traits you hold dear and which you believe are the most important in your life. You will have a chance to discover who you are as you continue to read this book. This can be a new beginning in your life. So, prepare to be amazed and surprised.

Becoming authentic is a lifetime goal. However, the earlier in life you embark on the path towards authenticity, the better. We all deserve to live a genuine life in an awakened, authentic and real way. However, so few of us have the courage to live this way much less to take the time to discover who we truly are. This book will help us achieve this.