It’s hard to avoid being yourself, much harder than it is trying to fit in.
Fighting your natural tendencies only makes them stronger while conformity eats away at your integrity.
The daily form of self-ruin starts and ends with mimetic desire. Instead of succumbing to afflictive habits such as hatred and jealousy, it is more fulfilling to be whole.
The good news is that identities are malleable. Once playing follow the leader runs its course, you can cultivate what is best within yourself. If you get good at being yourself, you’ll get good at creating the life you want.
Why stress being like everyone else?
of all the “happy habits” science has currently identified as being keys to a more fulfilling life, self-acceptance was the one most strongly associated with overall satisfaction.
Susan David, Emotional Agility