The Cost of Being You

July 23, 2012 in Creativity, Dreams, Life, Quick Reads with 36 Comments

 

Photo by Korafotomorgana (Creative Commons)

I might be a little too nice at times.

I’ll hold my tongue, because I might offend you.

The truth is, I want everyone to like me.

But that is not possible.

I’ll offend a few people by simply pursuing my passion.

I’ll offend readers with my personality.

I’ll offend some  just by following my dream.

I might even offend a few no matter what I do.

The truth is I CAN NOT make everyone like me.

It is impossible.

I need to be me; blemishes and all.

Otherwise I am not being authentic.

But it goes both ways.

You need to be you.

We don’t always have to agree.

And that’s okay.

 

What is something you can do today to be the real “you”? Can you please share it in the comments?

 

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  • Yvette Carol

    Hi Jim! As a writer I can do what Thoreau suggested;  I can strive to ‘know my own bone’. I can circle my preoccupations, recurring motifs, ‘bury it, dig it up, sniff it.’ The great writers always have their story, their palette, and are driven by something they find interesting that they can’t explain.

  • Stephanieblore01

    It took me a long time to like myself – but now that I do I don´t really worry about anybody else liking me, if you  do you do and if you don´t oh well.  Great blog.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Thanks so much Stephanie! You definitely need to like yourself and find a certain level of comfort in your own skin, but also you need to do what you feel called to do. If you feel called to write, you write. If you feel called to sing, you sing. Thanks so much for sharing!!

  • http://danhefferan.com/ Dan Hefferan

    I know I find myself right there too– trying to be myself but then feeling very confused when somebody just doesn’t seem to be receptive of what i’m doing.

    Great post.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Thanks so much Dan! It can be very, very confusing. But the key is to keep doing what you’re doing. ESPECIALLY if you feel called to do it!

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  • http://denisedilley.blogspot.com/ Denise Dilley

    I want everyone to like me, too, Jim.  At the same time, it’s just too much work & really unnecessary.  Give me a few good, tried & true friends, and I’ll be more than happy.  :)

    With that said, to be the real me today, I need a little bit of alone time.  

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Great point Denise! IT IS A TON OF WORK. I agree with what you are saying completely. Hope you enjoyed your alone time. I think alone time is something that is sooooooooooooooooo important but many take it for granted. 

  • http://snapshotofthewhole.wordpress.com/ Pamela Williamson

    Great post Jim. In order to be me today, I have to write. Especially when a well meaning family member reminds me that I should do something more constructive with my life.

    • unknownjim

      Wow Pamela, keep writing!! Do what you know you should be doing!!

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Wow, Pamela. You need to do what you feel called to do. Keep writing!! Be encouraged and know you can always come here for encouragement! Thanks for sharing!! 

      • http://snapshotofthewhole.wordpress.com/ Pamela Williamson

        Thanks Jim. You have a great blog. :)

        • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

          Thanks so much Pamela!! That is so nice of you to say!! I really, really appreciate that :)

  • http://www.abidingingrace.com/ A. Gonzales

    Great post!  I liked to be liked but not at the expense of compromising who I am.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Absolutely. Well said! People pleasing is a dangerous thing isn’t it! Thanks so much for sharing!

  • http://colebradburn.com/ Cole Bradburn

    I’m an encourager naturally, but I strive to be myself.  Trying to make everyone happy just drove me crazy (and there is no creativity in it).

    • unknownjim

      That’s a great point Cole! There is no creativity in being someone else. Thanks for sharing!!

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Well said Cole! Trying to please everyone just makes you not stand for anything. 

  • http://KatieAxelson.com/ Katie Axelson

    I’ve tried to blog more transparent things lately. I thought I was doing it already so I took a step deeper. Goodness it hurt but it’s also quite good!

    Katie

    • unknownjim

      Isnt there a John Cougar Mellencamp tune called “hurt so good”? Haha :)

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Makes me think of a John Cougar Mellencamp song I believe it is.. “hurts so good”. Haha. Man, I feel old now. Granted I’m not 100% sure that’s who sings that song, so maybe I’m not that old after all. 

  • http://undistractedchristian.com/ Tyler Hess

    Do I need to be liked? Absolutely not. I like to be liked. I enjoy being liked. I have to be liked. But it’s not like this, compulsive, need, to be liked. Like my need to be praised.

    shoot, i wasn’t just being me, i was just being michael scott from the office, forget i said anything

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Nice quote! Aren’t we all kind of like that? 

  • http://randomlychad.com Chad Jones

    I could be a better encourager. Sometimes it’s too easy to see the negative.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      It’s really easy to play the role of cynic and pessimist. I do think you are probably a bit better than you think you are Chad. You are just fine with me! To encourage others you have to be encouraged a lot as well. The more super-encouragers that you have in your life, the better you will be as an encourager.

  • http://chrystalmurphy.com/ Chrystal

    Great reminder today Jim! I actually had some practice with this last night – being honest with someone eventhough i risked offending them. It actually felt right and worked out well.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      That is FANTASTIC Chrystal!! Exciting stuff. Love that you are moving forward as a writer and as a leader too. You are growing in leaps and bounds!!

  • http://www.eileenknowles.com Eileen

    Good reminder, Jim.  It’s too much working being someone we are not and it doesn’t grow us into the person God desires us to be.  Each of us have unique gifts and talents, that He wants to use!

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Absolutely! Thanks Eileen. If we are not using our God-given gifts, we are not being who He made us to be!! It’s like playing basketball with a football. It really doesn’t work too well, does it??!

  • http://twitter.com/meltitus Melissa Titus

    I can write about what I feel I need to write instead of writing about what I think people want to hear. 

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      That’s fantastic Melissa! Otherwise you are writing for a specific audience which I believe can lead to pandering and watering down your work. You are SO on the right track! I’m excited for you!!!!

      • http://twitter.com/meltitus Melissa Titus

         Thanks Jim!  Sometimes I think it would be easier to just copycat someone else, but that just isn’t me.

  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    I could speak up more when I’m around my friends. Sometimes I’m afraid I’ll offend them if I tell them how I truly feel.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      I like that Joe. If you can’t be yourself around friends, are they really friends?