what does the term "just be yourself" really mean?

Question

I don't want to be too critical this term, but it really doesn't make sense. A person has be rude to his enemy, polite to his friends, respectful to the elderly. "just be yourself" doesn't really tell anybody how to be or act. A person has to think how he or she has to act in front of others, in order to fit into the society. not to "just be yourself"

Answer 1

The phrase "just be yourself" isn't necessarily supposed to tell you how to fit into society. It means to be honest with yourself and others. If you try to please everyone all the time, regardless of your own personal opinions, people will see right through that. It's like laughing at a joke you don't think is funny. Or listening to music only because it's what your friends listen to. For example, I am the only person in my circle of friends that listens to jazz, classical and spanish music. I don't make excuses or worry about what people think of my musical tastes. (or lack of taste as some think) It's what I like. Some of my friends like music I can't stand to listen to at all. That's cool too. I'm glad they like it, but I don''t have to. I don't like them any less for their choice in musical style. They don't like me any less either. When you are just being yourself, you are honest. You dress the way you dress, treat people the way you do, find humor in things because it's who you are, not because it's what everyone else thinks, does or says. You are a leader and confident, not trying to please everyone else at the expense of having no opinions, likes or dislikes, etc., of your own. It means, 'be who YOU are, not who others want you to be. And, when you are just being yourself, you don't HAVE to think about how to act in front of others. Fitting into society is a bit overrated anyway. It is a good idea to try to behave in a socially acceptable way so as not to offend others but this has more to do with common courtesy like saying thank you or not interrupting others in a movie by talking all the way through it.

Answer 2

never thought of it that way but you are right. People have many faces so which "self" does one choose to be