How am I supposed to be myself if I don't even know who I am?

Question

seriously people say to be yourself.. but who is that?

Answer 1

Here is a better way to look at it: instead of "being yourself" you should "be allowed to be who you want to be". People often don't know what they want yet or what their various strengths and weaknesses are... and that's OK. You should just be allowed the freedom to explore your own desires and talents, instead of trying to conform to someone else's model of who you should be before you have a chance to discover that for yourself.

So when someone tells you "be yourself", what they really mean is "choose what you want".... and if you don't know what you want yet, that's fine, just don't conform to a different standard than what you really want.

Answer 2

I guess there's a bit of a trick to identifying yourself. Spending time alone can help and, if you're anything like me, writing (about anything at all) can help you discover things about yourself. I can give you a few general pointers:

When you find yourself doing something out of habit, or because of what you've been taught, stop and ask yourself 'do I *want* to be doing this, or having this attitude?' If the answer is no, you're not being yourself. If the answer is yes, then you are. If it's 'no, but it's the right thing to do/believe' (and you *know* this - you haven't just been told), then you're getting to the core of who you are - the complex bits.

There's also the point that we're always changing. I constantly re-evaluate myself by asking 'am I where I want to be?' or 'do I really believe in what I'm doing/thinking?'

When you ask others for advice, take on board what they're saying, but don't mistake their views for your own. If you don't believe what someone tells you, then politely reject it and continue searching for your answer. If you don't like the fashionable clothes, don't wear them. See what you like, and wear that.

You'll know you're being yourself when you can look in the mirror and it makes you smile, because you're at peace with your decisions and don't need the validation of others.

Answer 3

I consider myself a fairly intelligent and confident person and I can't really figure out who I am...I say don't live your live by defining yourself...just be natural, don't think about your actions words, believe in yourself give yourself time, I've been questioning myself for as long as i was a scrawny awkward shy kid in elementary school and i still don't think I've found an answer, just keep yourself open to new things and people and you'll grow into yourself

Answer 4

If there is an option of marking the best question, here it is, my view:- people like Christ, Buddha, Vivekananda, Ramakrishna etc have all known who they are, there are few people who know who actually they are, once you know who u r, immediately you become immortal and what is called divine, keep on asking this question to yourself and surly you will get the answer from no-where else but from your own self.

Answer 5

You have to literally spend some time with just your self. Have some converstions with your self like you would with someone you just met. Ask your self questions and then answer them. Read something thought provoking. The more you do that makes take a position on something the more you learn about who you are

Answer 6

Do something like make a list of things you like and don't like. Make the list to include silly things like whether you like spearmint better than peppermint or what your favorite nut, berry, ice cream, etc. is. Then think about what you want to do with your life, what you think about the different political issues, and what kind of music or movies you like.

Go to a site like the Tickle Test site and take as many tests about your own personality, abilities, tastes, etc. as you can. Save the results.

What you believe, what you like and don't like, what you think, and what you want all come together to make at least a part of a picture of who you are. Your hair color, eye color, and ancestral origins add to the picture. So does whatever kind of humor makes you laugh, who you love and who loves you, and what you think is important in life.

Imagine (or even put it in writing) that you are going to write a story about yourself, and you are going to tell the reader as much as possible about you, your main character. Think about all of the above, as well as what you worry about, what makes you unhappy, or what you've learned from past experiences; and formulate a picture of who this "main character" of yours is.

Usually, people around 15 years old figure out who they are and what their philosophy of life is; but if you're older it just means you didn't take the time to think it all out earlier...

Answer 7

Don't know. I am still a lost soul and do not know why. So, I just do my best with what I have been given. Just be good to yourself! Maybe talk to a therapist. This might help you to figure out what's what.

Answer 8

If at this point in your life you don't know who you are than it is your time to go to a retreat and find yourself, it is what you are in need of , when you are lost in you go deep inside and call your self out , you must alwats look to your inner self to find what is hidden there that you refuse to accept and not therefore know who you are and could become to be..

Answer 9

This is the opening mind question. Which answering that makes you that definition which is not constantly constant because all of us are changing. Only we have to be sure we define it as pure as solving the problem of where we live. Solving the problem of existence, we are therefor we are. Live and let live. SELF is Whole and PURE WHOLE IS OUT OF SUFFERING.

Answer 10

Do what comes naturally to you. Someday you will figure out why you feel this way, and realize why you do the things you do, and what sort of a person this makes you.