Are you you?
Wonderful, Jocelyn! We're all works in progress, I think. It keeps life interesting, no? Like a box of chocolates. ;-)
Try as we may, sometimes it’s hard to be content with who we are. Why is it that sometimes we have such a hard time being comfortable with this person we have been our whole lives? It’s like creativity and wonder, we had confidence when we were children and somehow, by adolescence, we’ve lost it. We didn’t dislike ourselves when we were young. Why now?
The French have some lovely idioms. One of my favourites is – être bien dans sa peau – to be well in one’s skin. It’s not a medical or scientific reference. More a general sense of well-being, contentment – to be at ease with oneself. Coco Chanel expressed the sentiment well when she said, “ Beauty begins the moment you decide to be you.” And who doesn’t love a little Chanel?
It takes a bit of confidence to be content with being you. Not much, but a little. You don’t have to be bold and audacious and live out loud. To feel good about yourself could be a simple as standing up straight, smiling and enjoying the life you have. That can be done very quietly. Dress well, eat well; that doesn’t mean expensively. Focus on yourself; invest in yourself. Accept imperfections. They are what make you unique.
And one thing I know for absolute sure is that the most important relationship you have in your life, the one and only one that can bring you contentment is the relationship you have with yourself. Yes, you love your family and friends, and they love you, I understand that. But, that’s only part of the equation. You make up the rest.
Create a life you love. Then live it. Love it. Set goals for yourself and move towards them. Every day is a new opportunity to achieve something, to grow, to evolve, to learn. Strive for excellence. Do good. Be kind, so easy and yet extraordinary. Kindness costs nothing, yet is invaluable.
Give yourself a little love, enjoy being you and soon you’ll be exuding mounds of that other delightful French idiom – je ne sais quoi.
What do you say, do you need a little confidence in yourself? Or are you comfortable in your skin? Share your story in the comments below. We’re listening.
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I love that quote! It’s perfect at any age. Truth is truth, after all. At 63, I have to say that I am comfortable in my own skin AND I often put my foot in my mouth and regret my words or phrasing the minute they come streaming out. I hate that. I still need to polish my communication skills, and maybe, just maybe tone down my strong opinions a notch or two. I am a work in progress and will be until the day I leave my body behind.
Wonderful, Jocelyn! We’re all works in progress, I think. It keeps life interesting, no? Like a box of chocolates. 😉