Everyone is so self-conscious about what they wear, what they say, how they look, who they talk to, what they say they're interested in, the music they like, they're favorite animal, their favorite singer, their personal style, what they study in school...the list could go on forever.
People, instead of feeling comfortable in their own skin feel the need to fake this persona so "everyone will like them."
My best friend is one of those people, but I finally figured out how to bring some things into perspective...
In my life I've gone to three (school) dances. My ninth grade homecoming, tenth grade homecoming...and my senior prom. I have the irrational fear of being awkward when I dance, but when my best friend and I were talking about it she told me that when she goes out dancing she just "dances like no one's watching."
Well, of course it took me awhile to connect the two dots, but when it finally did -- out came something that I think everyone should consider.
In a world where people can and will be judged by family, peers, and complete strangers it's easy
to get paranoid and fear taking that wrong step and eventually falling into a place that you don't necessarily belong. People are pushed to become lawyers and doctors, find a nice boy/girl and settle down and start a family, stay close to home, go to college, don't construe yourself as "abnormal," find a job with a great salary, be nice to everybody, don't do anything that people could get angry at you for, always be nice...and once again this could be a never ending list. Take a look at yourself and reevaluate why you're in a certain career, why you're feeling stuck when you're being told you're exactly where you should be, why you feel completely taken for granted.
Learn that it's okay to live your own life and speak up for yourself. It's okay to make some people angry. How are you to know if you're thinking for yourself if you never meet someone with conflicting views?
Isn't that what life's about? Finding your place in the world? Making your own way?
Learn that it's okay to live your own life and speak up for yourself. It's okay to make some people angry. How are you to know if you're thinking for yourself if you never meet someone with conflicting views?
Isn't that what life's about? Finding your place in the world? Making your own way?
I stumbled across your Day Zero blog when I was starting mine and enjoyed reading you, so I pop in on occasion. I've taken a different approach to the "dance like no one's watching" thought:
ReplyDeleteWork like no one is watching
Love like you need the money
Dance like you hurt real bad
It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
:)