be yourself

[mayoraasei]

I've never really understood that phrase, brandished about like some sort of gimmerick in fiction. "Be who you are", "don't worry about what other people think", "don't change yourself to suit others", "people should like you for who you are, not what you try to be".

Is it as innocently idealistic as it seems, or is it a dangerous trap for people to use as an excuse so that they can brush off their conscience...so they can "be who they are" without trying to be better?

I'm not saying that "being yourself" is wrong, but the assertion must come with an important realisation - saying "you don't want to change to suit others" means you no longer have the right to complain if you find that those "others" don't like you.

It bothers me when people whine, "Why can't [person/people] like me just the way I am?"

If "the way you are" is not likeable to them, why should they be obliged to like you?

If you want to "be yourself", be so with the fullest confidence. If you are certain you are unwilling to pamper to the tastes of others, don't complain when those others will not accept you.

Comments

[jezjezjezza.livejournal.com]

"Is it as innocently idealistic as it seems, or is it a dangerous trap for people to use as an excuse so that they can brush off their conscience...so they can "be who they are" without trying to be better?"

hehe, you got to the point exactly, fenglet :D I think the original context of the "be yourself" idea was a noble one, but it is so easily twisted into an excuse to not try to better oneself that I unfortunately feel the way you do when people use it like that.

[siu.livejournal.com]

agreed!
anyhows... how are you going with andante? o.o;
i cant concentrate on my studiesss T__T and i tihnk im makign things worse for my two manga staffies... sighhhhh - tired