Live Freely: A Call For Authenticity.
Sometimes, as young people, on the endeavours for finding ourselves, we fall into pits, and,
don't misinterpret me, most of the times is ok to fall into these pits, but there are times in
which we could have avoided the unpleasant situation, and we could have gone better without
affecting our sometimes, fragile mental health.
I personally, fell into a large number of unnecessary pits, and, even if for those “mistakes” I
wouldn't be the boy I am today, at least I would have saved myself from all the suffering and
crying.
As most of the Introvert people experience high school...as hell, I still managed to have
happy moments and to feel like a teenager, In fact, I'm still one, eighteen isn't that old, but the
difference with school, is that I'm happier now, happier thanks to these three statements, that
simply helped me into building an identity I liked, rather than the one that the cool kids
wanted, and I thought I did, just for acceptance.
1. Be Disliked By Others, That's Ok.
When we are young, being socially accepted helps us to feel ok with ourselves, we feel that
sense of belonging, and that were supported because were similar to the others and that
generates empathy, but what if initially were not liked, we are feeling marginalized, basket
case, call it what you want; you just don't feel accepted.
In our human nature, we will do what we have at our hands to fit in, to feel “loved”, but here
comes handy a phrase my grandmother always said, and that eased the weight of not being a
cool/popular kid:
“You are no golden penny to be liked by everyone”
Acting like they want you to, Doing things you may not want to do (like drinking and/or
smoking) just because of social pressure, hanging out in places they like but you don't, hiding
your music taste, your opinions and other personality traits in which you may differ from
them, just to go with the flow....all of these scenarios may help us to be “well perceived” by
our contemporaries, or to fit in.
But you are just fitting in with them, you are just proving something to them, and it may take
you time to realize that as it took time for me, and even if some people disliked me (which is
pretty ok as I said), the only slot where I realized I needed to fit in was the one within me, all
these people wouldn't care as much as I intentionally do, most of these people only cares for
seeing the tip of the iceberg, and those who actually stick through to experience the in-depth
part of you, including yourself, deserve to see the purest, most honest part of you.
2. Step Into The Light.
This sentence comes from the Harry Styles´ hit single “Lights Up”, which dives into
self-discovery, and later, self acceptance, and the freedom that comes from being open (and
vulnerable).
And I really like to bring up Harry's statement in this, because even if you know, or not know
who you are, It is pretty pretty hard to embrace that and consequently let others see the real
you. But let me tell you, it is really satisfying when you actually start showing yourself as
who you really are, not caring about the standards and caring more about how you feel more
comfortable, and happy.
3. Romanticize Your Life.
I will ask you to visualize yourself in this scenario...Pretend you're in a movie and you are the
main character. How would you perceive yourself? What's your story?... A couple questions
you should really ask to yourself, because sometimes we go around life, without actually
living, or even more, without actually living for ourselves, because it may sound cliche, but
life nowadays goes by really damn fast; the meaning of love, in all its subjectivity, has turned
mundane, and i'm not only talking about love in relationships, but love for life and
appreciation. We have stopped giving appreciation to those moments when we used to feel
infinite.
And I end with this, you don't need any approval from anybody for feeling ok, give power to
your approval, and be ok with others disapproval. Don't allow fear and others' opinions to
inhibit you to unleash your true colors, you deserve to see yourself for who you are.
And finally, please please, play the main character in your coming-of-age drama movie, and
be able to create and treasure the moments in life that will help you to finally define who you
are.
Dearly, Luis.
