Upon the first read, this quote attributed to Queen Latifah may seem a bit trite, and you are likely to be asking,  “Aren’t I being my true self?”, as a rhetorical question.

Although your answer might be “yes”, what many of us may not fully appreciate is that being your true self tends to exist within a spectrum. In other words, it is not binary: “I am being my true self”, versus, “I am not being my true self.” Instead, how you feel about yourself, and how you present yourself to others, can change from moment to moment, depending on the situation. In some instances, the mask you wear is firmly in place; whilst in others, and to varying degrees, you have allowed yourself to be more vulnerable and open.

Why can’t we consistently be our true selves in EVERY situation? If we are honest with ourselves, invariably, fear is the source: fear of ridicule, fear of exclusion, fear of rejection, among others. This is why Queen Latifah reminds us to be bold and brave enough to step beyond your fears, and to be your true self.

 

Throughout the day, we invite you to revisit this quote. Below are a few questions you may wish to ask yourself, and those who journal may find them especially useful:

• To what degree am I consistently presenting my true self to the world?
• What is holding me back from presenting my true self?

 

 

Best wishes and have a great day!