Aha! Moment Monday
Society begs that we fit in. In fact we’re rewarded for it
It starts early. When we’re “good” – we’re quiet, behave, we don’t question – everyone is happy. And the sooner we fall into a pattern that makes it easy to anticipate our good behaviour, the happier everyone is.
Of course there are those of us that push buttons – we’re curious, we question, we test limits – and we drive everyone, starting with our parents, insane.
But most of us conform. Some go so far as to trading their authentic selves in order to be recognized, appreciated, and even loved. We may be consciously aware of the trade we’re making or not. It just makes it easier to be who “they” want us to be, right?
Angelo Patri (author of 13 books and thousands of syndicated newspaper articles on the subject of child training) says, “Nobody is so miserable as he who longs to be somebody and something other than the person he is in body and mind.”
Miserable? We didn’t sign up for miserable!
Paul Boynton, in “6 Ways to Get a Job” said, “The biggest mistake people make in applying for jobs is in not being themselves. Instead of taking their hair down and being completely frank, they often try to give you the answers they think you want.” (and Paul interviewed more than 60,000 job seekers prior to writing his book).
But we still torment ourselves trying to be something we’re not because that worked … up until now.
Aha! ~ Nobody ever wants a counterfeit coin” ~ Dale Carnegie in “How to Enjoy Your Life and Your Job”
It’s a scientific fact that when you were conceived there was a one in 300,000 billion chance that the person who is specifically you would be born. You’ve got to admit that’s pretty darned exciting! And that means that your uniqueness is your strength!
Many people try to be successful by imitation – traits, strategies, language – and while that might be easier from a marketing or service perspective (that everyone operates in the same way), your real success comes when “confident you” steps up to allow your entire, authentic self to bubble over. The only person you need to impress is you. And when you’re happy we’re happy.
“No matter what happens, always be yourself.” ~ Dale Carnegie
No matter what!!
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