are you being true to you? (+ stay positive giveaway)

This article is part of a series of articles to promote Stay Positive: Daily Reminders from Positively Present. For more information on the book, visit StayPositive365.com. For details on how to win this week’s giveaway, scroll down to the bottom of this article.  

 

When it comes to living a positive life, loving oneself is critical. If you don't love who you are, it becomes increasingly difficult to love your life. But self love isn't always easy. In fact, for most people it's one of the most difficult aspects of living a positive life. Why? Because one of the trickiest things about loving yourself is actually being yourself. 

We're all up against a lot of pressure to be different from what we are. Advertising, media, and those we interact with often encourage us (directly or indirectly) to be something we're not, to strive for ideals that we might not even want to strive for. Many of us look at others and wonder how we can be more like them. While it's perfectly fine to be inspired by others and to have role models, one of the best ways to love who you are is to be who you are. 

Being yourself sounds simple enough -- almost as if it's something you couldn't help but do -- but often it's harder to be you than you might think. For some, staying true to who they are comes easily and effortlessly. For others, it's more of a struggle. Either way, it's important to check in with yourself every now and then to see if you're staying true to you. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to assess whether or not you're really being you. 

 

• Do you say what you want to say when you want to say it? 
• Do you wear the items that make you happy and comfortable?
• Do you stick up for what you believe in (even if others don't agree)? 
• Do you take part in activities that make you happy and fulfilled? 
• Do you spend time with those with whom you can be 100% yourself?
• Do you know what's important to you--and make time for those things? 
• Do you state your opinions even if they oppose someone else's? 

 

Being true to who you are means saying what you think, doing what you love to do, and being with the people who inspire and uplift you. Of course, that doesn't mean you should always do what you want and say what you want. Sometimes being true to who you are means putting other people first. Sometimes it means keeping your mouth shut when you have something to say. But most of the time it means not being afraid to do what you want and say what you have to say. Most of the time it means knowing what you think -- and not being afraid to show it or say it. 

Kurt Cobain once said, "I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I'm not." While that statement might be a bit strong for some, the underlying message should ring true for all of us: it's better to be true to who you are than to be true to who someone else wants you to be.  

 

STAY POSITIVE GIVEAWAYS!  

To promote the launch of Stay Positive : Daily Reminders from Positively Present, PositivelyPresent.com is offering six weeks of giveaways based on the twelve sections in Stay Positive. Each week, readers will have the chance to win one of two awesome giveways. 

 

 

HOW TO ENTER

1. Link to StayPositive365.com on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr,
    Instagram, Google+,etc. and / or tell your friends about the book
2. Mention which giveaway you want to win (Self Love or Motivation) 
3. Let me know how you spread the word in the comments section below 
4. Leave your email address (or another way I can contact you) 

IMPORTANT DETAILS

* Every mention you post / tweet / like, etc. counts as one entry. 
  Enter as many times as you want! 

* 2 winners (one for each giveaway) will be chosen + notified via email on
  Friday, November 2, 2012.  

 

Comments

[Jenn]

What a great reminder to stay true to yourself. I love the list of questions. I will definitely try to keep those in mind more often!

[Liz]

I motivated this entry (spread the word) for MOTIVATION via facebook. :)

[Derrick]

Yes. I agree being yourself is not as simple as it sounds. Therefore accepting it is a life long process that will always be at times opposed and doubted by others as well as yourself is key. Never stop trying to be yourself. I would like to think I am getting better every day. Thanks for the post.

[Mahesh]

This is really a great reminder for being myself. Thanks for sharing.

[Dianna]

Spreading the word on Twitter today...
for Self Love.

[Dianna]

Spreading the word on Twitter...for Self Love.

[Dianna]

Spreading the word on Twitter...for Self Love.

[Amanda]

I spread the word for SELF LOVE via email :)
Thanks!

[Latrisha]

Thanks for this post. It was right on time! I've shared this post and a link to StayPositive365.com on Facebook for the Motivation prize!

[Katie]

Inspiring words. Spreading the love on pinterest, would love tr SELF LOVE prize

[K Lopez]

I shared this on Google+ for Self Love. This is so inspiring and really lifts my spirits in difficult times. Thank you!

[Michelle]

I have been struggling with this a lot. I feel like I am being myself but don't know if I love myself. There are still things I need to work on and I can't seem to put my finger on it. You definitely have inspired a blog post for me to write. Thank you. Spreading the word on Twitter. Looks like I need the Self-Love Giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity. Stay blessed.

[positively present]

Jenn - So glad you enjoyed this list of questions! I've found that they really help me to create more self love in my life.

Derrick - Self love is certainly a life-long process and there are always challenges along the way. What you wrote in your comment is such a simple, yet powerful statement: Never stop trying to be yourself. I love it!

Mahesh - You're welcome! Stay true to you!

Dianna, Amanda, Latrisha, Katie, K - Thanks for spreading the word about Stay Positive online! You guys are great!

Michelle - Great point you brought up - sometimes being yourself isn't always the same as loving yourself. You might be acting like yourself, but might not feel love yourself. Usually they go hand in hand, but not always. I'm so glad this post inspired you. Your comment inspired me too and now I'm thinking about how being yourself and loving yourself are similar but different. Keep staying true to you!

[Stephanie Plucinsky]

I love this post. Much needed for this week. Thanks for writing, Dani!
xx,Stephanie

[Latrisha]

Hopefully leading more people your way! Posted a link to StayPositive365 on Facebook again today for the Motivation prize. Thanks again for writing!

[positively present]

Stephanie - You're welcome! So glad to hear this is what you needed this week.

Latrisha - Thanks so much! I appreciate that you're helping to spread the word.

[Mrs. Pancakes]

Just came across your blog via the photo challenge and i love your blog...so inspiring!

[positively present]

Mrs. Pancakes - So glad you found it! And so funny it was through the photo challenge because I'm issuing a 2012 edition later today!

[Amanda]

I came across your blog from another blogger that is taking part in your photo challenge (Ally) - and am so glad that I found your blog!

This post comes in pretty perfect timing - as my motivation is a bit low ... so must keep my fingers crossed for #2 Motivation.

I just sent out a giant text message to all of my wonderful friends, telling them about Stay Positive 365 - and hope they jump over to the website!

[positively present]

Amanda - So glad you found Positively Present! Like you, I'm also struggling with motivation right now. (I should write a post about it!). Thanks for texting everyone about the site/book. You're awesome!

[Janae]

I have been working on "self love" a lot lately. I am a teacher and have been having a very hard year with my class. I feel myself being negative quite often, and I don't want that to be the way it is. I am trying to speak more positively to my class and to my friends here at school. I recently told a friend about your blog and she is now in love with it too! Thanks so much!!

[positively present]

Janae - I'm so glad you've been working on self love lately. It's one of the most important things when it comes to living a positive life. It's so great that you're aware of how important it is and you're making an effort to speak more positively. Thanks so much for sharing Positively Present with your friend!