Have you ever done something that you didn't really want to do, just because other people were doing it? All of us feel pressure to fit in (相处融洽) sometimes, and this can lead us to pretend (假装) that we like something more than we actually do.
In fact, when we do this, we're not being true to ourselves. It's important to be honest about your feelings with yourself because this can help you feel happier and less worried.
Being true to yourself means listening to your own thoughts and feelings. If you want some time alone, then being true to yourself might mean saying no to friends who want you to join them for an activity. Or if there's a game that your friends invite you to join in but you don't enjoy, then being true to yourself might mean doing something else instead. Being true to yourself is when your actions match how you really feel.
When we keep doing things we don't like and ignore our thoughts and feelings, we may feel uncomfortable, worried or sad. Naomi Richards, a life coach for children and writer of Being Me (And Loving It) says, "Children need to know who they are, their values and their beliefs (信条). If children have this self-awareness (自我意识), then they may not easily turn to doing things they know are wrong."
So you may ask,"▲ "One part of being true to yourself is in how you speak to other people, and being OK with saying no. Richards explains, "You can be true to yourself by learning how to say no." However, she adds that being true to yourself is also about "being honest with yourself and what you really want and need." Finally, Richards says, "You can learn how to be true to yourself by being yourself — not by changing your thoughts and actions to fit in."
