So much advice tells us to 'be ourselves' or 'be true to ourselves', and yet we would all agree that it behooves us to undertake a certain amount of self improvement e.g. if someone tells you that you are rude, it would be worthwhile makeing an attempt to be more courteous, the same goes with other things like being more confident, more loving, more literate, more open minded, more healthy etc.
This contradiction has been haunting me for years. I would very much like to change and improve myself, but I keep being told that I should just be myself. What am I supposed to do?
2006-06-19 03:46:08 · 5 answers · asked by SmartBlonde 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
It's important to want to improve yourself and you will know what you need to improve on when a personality trait no longer represents the person you want to be. Yes, you need to be true to yourself but I think part of it is becoming the Best You that you can be and that requires constant care. Not caring to better yourself is never good.
2006-06-19 04:37:03 · answer #1 · answered by Vivreici 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree totally with you, the contradictions are mind boggleing, yet at times they come together and make sense, ha ha another contradiction, seriously this be yourself thing is mainly said by people who love you and dont want you frustrate yourself with thinking about these things, if you are what you are then you will be happy but ignorant, self improvment comes from hard work learning and change of course, the latter being what people who love you are afraid of most.
2006-06-19 12:03:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
'Be yourself' simply refer to asking you to be your natural self. By nature men are created good and virtuous. By simple influence of the environment and the conflict of thought by parents we are marred in the process of growing up.
It is a call to natural made of man.
It is not conflicting if you see it this way. Perhaps if you sit and ask yourself if truly you are rude. You'd discover that you are or you are not and something went wrong to portray you as such. Then correct that that makes people get the wrong signal. and you'd still be yourself and good.
Its in your head and ability. You do not need another man;s head to be able to behave good- you know?
2006-06-19 11:08:03 · answer #3 · answered by mikail 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Improving yourself doesn't mean that you have to be a fake. I was a very bad behaved girl when I was small and I just learned that it was due to my own insecurities. When I worked on them, my behaviour improved and I now enjoy being well behaved. It has become ME. Be your higher self, and improve your lower self. Lol
2006-06-19 10:55:47 · answer #4 · answered by Deepthi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the fact that u posed the question , implies you dont have too strive any further as u have got on the train and have arrived
2006-06-19 10:55:48 · answer #5 · answered by braveheart 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋