On Being Yourself

What does it mean to be yourself? In what way are you different than others? These are both philosophical and psychological questions. From my point of view, much of philosophy and psychology have taken a wrong turn in their emphasis upon individuality, as though people were discrete units. Rather people are parts of social groups. The challenge, then, is to find yourself in that mix.

Below are just several thoughts about what it means to yourself, your unique being. The thoughts are put in aphoristic form, not because this is better than explication, but because it is yet another way of grasping ideas and concepts. They are only suggestive. But I think they point in the right direction, where we can accept ourselves as part of something larger than individual selves, yet come to realize the uniqueness of that self in the matrix of relationships.

1.

No one shares your history.

Therefore, you are different from all who have ever been or ever will be.

2. To deny your uniqueness is an offense against yourself.

To find your uniqueness is a blessing.

3.

You are unique; you are less than perfect.

Awareness of both preserves your humanity.

4.

To discover your talents is to honor your uniqueness.

To know that you are like others is to honor yourself.

5.

You are because of you are part of that which surrounds you.

You cannot be apart from that which you are.

6.

You cannot be independent from your surroundings.

You are only free to be unique.

7.

You are who you are because others interact with you.

Without others you could not be who you are.