Question #6: How can I be true to myself?

“How can I be true to myself?” (vs. “How can I gain approval?”)  I really like this question!  It's very powerful!  I haven't thought a lot about how I would answer this one, so maybe I'll come back to it later and post some more.  As I posted the 6 questions, I learned that Question #1 would end up last.  Oh well.  That means that more people will read Question #6 first, and that's OK. 

What is your answer:  How can I be true to myself?

(You might want to read some of the other questions and some of my thoughts about them first, as a way of getting into the mental and spiritual place to answer this question more easily.)

Re: Question #6: How can I be true to myself?

How can I be true to myself? Well, i can start by being honest with myself about my weaknesses. I have a lot of empathy and it sometimes takes more of a toll on me than I'm prepared for. I should learn to recognize what I can and can't handle and make good judgments. I sometimes use humor to cover up emotions I'm feeling. I'd like to be truer to myself  and be more straightforward in things I say rather than always taking a roundabout approach to things.

Re: Question #6: How can I be true to myself?

It sounds to me as if you are naturally very empathic.  Our society puts little value on people's feelings, and when a person finds themselves very much in touch with what others are feelings, sometimes there is very little support and information to help people understand the nature of the experiences they are having in sharing the emotions of others.  Our society tends to dismiss matters of the heart and emotions as being less important than “the bottom line.”  We are often told that holding the feelings of others is a sign of weakness, when actually it takes much strength to hold those emotions, keep them separate from who we are, and yet understand them and let them help us connect with that person.  You are a very strong and gifted person.  I think you are doing beautiful things in your life, and your husband and son, you whole family, has a wonderful gift in you.  God bless you and your wonderful family!

Re: Question #6: How can I be true to myself?

Boy!!! The things this question brings up!  There are so many things I could do differently.  I too am very empathetic.  I'm sure there are times when that is a great thing, but it can also be a liability.  There have been times when that has gotten in the way of my better judgement.  More over contibuted to my self doubt, making others feelings or opinions more important than mine.  I have recently learned to say NO! but still have a way to go.  I have had many memory problems and now doubt my answers at work for fear of being “wrong” or humiliated because I am wrong.  I can start by being aware of when to answer and when not to.  I would really benefit from letting go of perfectionism and fear and just “DO IT” 

Re: Question #6: How can I be true to myself?

Re: Question #6: How can I be true to myself?

I discovered that being true to myself means doing things that I want to do when I want to do them. Being true to myself means expressing myself in ways that I am most comfortable with. It means not being afraid to go against majority! Being true to myself  means standing for and representing the things that make me ,me! In order to be true to self one must first get to know and understand who they are, without that one does not know who they are being true to! One must follow thier heart thier dreams, and goals. Not being controlled by money or percieved power being led by your hearts desires on your pursuit of happiness.  

Re: Question #6: How can I be true to myself?

I can be true to myself by standing up for what I feel and think is right. Also, by not letting other people dictate my life. Sure we all have to make compromises, or else we'd all be president right? LOL. I find recently that when things get tough you find out who you can count on and who you can't. In those days and hours you do lots of searching and realize what in life is really important to you. I think a great example of this is that for years I didn't move away from the town my parents and siblings lived in. I wanted very much to explore other places and live somewhere other than that little corner of the world. I eventually realized life waits on no one and I had to make myself happy because no one else could or would do that. So for me, I was true to myself by leaving the safe and tight knit community and reaching out to a world far bigger than I ever thought possible.

Re: Question #6: How can I be true to myself?

By acknowledgeing that - nature is in control of man not man in control of nature.