Believe in yourself
I have seen incredible people caging themselves out of fear of not believing in themselves enough – for possibly not knowing themselves enough. We all play roles in society. We surround ourselves with people, profiles, words, messages and living examples of what we would like to stay away from or potentially become.
Playing roles is not bad; it is what makes society what it is. We are all inserted in a context, so we shall play these roles to exist – even survive. But there is a thin border that divides who we think we are, who we truly are and who we want to become.
We often attribute who we are based on our achievements, on our victories and failures – and our failures tend to take over our heads once we stop to evaluate ourselves.
I sit down every day and talk to people with whom I see such greatness of potential, so much creativity and intelligence intertwined with the feeling of simply being alive and able to create something that will eternalise their passage through life.
But people do not always see what I see in them – and saying is not enough most times. I can say as much as I want, but they will not believe me. So, then I look at myself and think: ‘If someone tells me this, will I believe it? Will I be able to look inside, look at myself and see the greatness I see in others?’
I look at people trying to see the best of them. There is a light inside some; I see through them, but can I see through mine?
I am no longer able to count how many times I deprived myself of doing things out of fear – fear of failing, fear of not meeting expectations; not only other people’s expectations but also my own.
It is where I stop and think about all those roles we created and are inserted into. Some we put ourselves in based on our actions. Other roles life has put us into without us, asking for it or making any effort to just be attributed to that. These roles are good, but do they meet who we are? Are these labels real to you? To your heart?
Who are you when no one’s watching? Can you take a moment to find yourself? To see yourself as you are? What do you see and what would your real role be? I feel some of us are somewhat afraid of what we will find once we close our eyes and just feel the company of ourselves: as we are, no roles, just our hearts.
But I will tell you something; defects are human, doubts are normal, and insecurity is also part of it. But finding out who you are, understanding yourself, finding your defects, your bad habits, your weaknesses, your ugly truths – that is part of growing too. If you want to become someone incredible, you must find your true self first, and see what can you fix to become the best version of yourself.
Do not be afraid. You would be amazed if you knew what you can achieve if you just let yourself be; if you let yourself exist the way you are.
Instead of stopping yourself before getting your hands dirty you just tell yourself, ‘Okay, I can do it!’ and work towards your goal, work towards yourself.
Look inside, get to know yourself, get to know your failures and work on them and believe in yourself more. Get your hands dirty. I once did not know what a pizza was till I ate it.