Often repeated words of life are "be yourself", but what does this actually stand for? On my way home from work, this question appeared. It appeared probably because it's almost 6 am, but nevertheless... 
I imagine a human is made up of a will, affected by surroundings and genetics. I also imagine the same human is made up of emotions, like fear. Fear creates limitations. As an example, let's say you're afraid of heights.
One could say this fear stops you from being yourself. I mean, who WANTS to be afraid of heights? I assume noone really wants to. In order to become more "true to yourself", you should try to overcome your fear of heights. But you can also look at it from another angle. Let's say this fear is a part of you, of who you are. With that in mind, just as it would be the correct choice to overcome this fear, it would be correct to still be afraid of it too. Since your fears are a part of you, after all.
Another, perhaps more relevant, example would be when you start working with a new group of people. These people are very different from you, you don't have anything in common with them, they're very tight with each other, making it hard for you to become a part of this group. Not because they don't want to, but because you simply don't fit in. In this situation, some people would, more or less, change their usual ways of acting among other people, change their behaviour, change their choices of subjects when talking, in order to fit in with the group. Wouldn't this also be a fear, the fear of feeling left outside and alone?
I've thought of "being yourself" meaning you should always try to overcome your limitations and fears and do whatever you want to. Because these limitations and fears are stopping you from being the kind of person you want to be, or at least would be better off being in your opinion. But as I've said before, wouldn't your fears and limitations be a part of who you are? Just like your opinions and your way of being are pieces of the puzzle that is "you", wouldn't fears and limitations also be parts of "you"?
With all this in mind, I've come to the conclusion that whatever you do, you'll always be yourself. Who else can you be?
And no, I haven't studied any psychology or philosophy, so maybe someone else can bring new light to this subject. Am I missing something?
I imagine a human is made up of a will, affected by surroundings and genetics. I also imagine the same human is made up of emotions, like fear. Fear creates limitations. As an example, let's say you're afraid of heights.
One could say this fear stops you from being yourself. I mean, who WANTS to be afraid of heights? I assume noone really wants to. In order to become more "true to yourself", you should try to overcome your fear of heights. But you can also look at it from another angle. Let's say this fear is a part of you, of who you are. With that in mind, just as it would be the correct choice to overcome this fear, it would be correct to still be afraid of it too. Since your fears are a part of you, after all.
Another, perhaps more relevant, example would be when you start working with a new group of people. These people are very different from you, you don't have anything in common with them, they're very tight with each other, making it hard for you to become a part of this group. Not because they don't want to, but because you simply don't fit in. In this situation, some people would, more or less, change their usual ways of acting among other people, change their behaviour, change their choices of subjects when talking, in order to fit in with the group. Wouldn't this also be a fear, the fear of feeling left outside and alone?
I've thought of "being yourself" meaning you should always try to overcome your limitations and fears and do whatever you want to. Because these limitations and fears are stopping you from being the kind of person you want to be, or at least would be better off being in your opinion. But as I've said before, wouldn't your fears and limitations be a part of who you are? Just like your opinions and your way of being are pieces of the puzzle that is "you", wouldn't fears and limitations also be parts of "you"?
With all this in mind, I've come to the conclusion that whatever you do, you'll always be yourself. Who else can you be?
And no, I haven't studied any psychology or philosophy, so maybe someone else can bring new light to this subject. Am I missing something?
