Teen Breathe Magazine Issue 050 Back Issue

What does being yourself mean to you? It’s perhaps easy to think that it implies being just one way all the time. But there’s a lot more to it than that.
For instance, you might have a very sociable side that thrives on getting friends together for some fun, but also a quieter side that loves to make regular time for curling up with a book or spending time in nature.
Neither of these sides is less authentic or less worthy than the other. They’re simply two parts of a varied and interesting whole.
It’s also completely natural to act differently depending on
who you’re with or where you are. This doesn’t mean you’re not being yourself – you’re just showing different sides of yourself.
It’s a good idea, though, to make sure you’re not denying your true self in the process – such as keeping quiet about your opinion because it differs from someone else’s or pretending to like something that you don’t – as that can damage self-confidence.
So, remember that being yourself encompasses many different ways of behaving and thinking – and that it’s important to embrace them all – so go ahead and celebrate every part of you.