Why Being Yourself is the Ultimate Flex

⏱ 8 min read

Being yourself sounds easy, right? But here’s the secret I’ve learned: being yourself is actually one of the hardest things you can do.

I’ve felt this in classrooms, at weddings, in offices, and even inside my own head. Whether it was a friend telling me to “fix” my eyebrows, an aunt pushing makeup onto my acne, or me second-guessing my choice to quit my job, the struggle has always been the same: What will people think?

And yet choosing to be yourself, unapologetically, is also one of the most freeing, confidence-building, life-shifting choices you can make.

Would you agree, or does the thought still scare you a little?

The Real Meaning of Being Yourself

Let’s clear this up first: being yourself doesn’t mean refusing to grow, or using “that’s just who I am” as an excuse.

Instead, the real meaning of being yourself is:

• Living in alignment with your values, not someone else’s rules.
• Choosing joy over judgment.
• Dropping the “what will they think” soundtrack that plays on loop in your head.
• Saying no without a 10-minute apology.

If you’ve ever noticed yourself acting one way with friends, another with family, and yet another at work you know how heavy the mask can feel.

Being Yourself Is the Ultimate Flex

Here’s a truth nobody told me growing up: being yourself is the ultimate flex.

Not the branded bag. Not the curated Instagram feed. Not the polished career title. The real flex the one most people secretly wish they had is to walk through life unapologetically yourself.

And trust me, it’s harder than it sounds.

Why Being Yourself Is So Difficult

The challenge starts early. I’ll share a quick school memory.

During my school days I hadn’t started threading my eyebrows or removing my mustache hair. One day, a friend said to me, “You should really do it I do it every 15 days.”

My answer? “No, it hurts and I don’t want to.”

And guess what? To this day, I still don’t thread my eyebrows every 15 days. Yes, I use a trimmer sometimes for the mustache, but I decided back then and still believe now that I don’t owe anyone an explanation for how I choose to look.

It was one of my earliest lessons in authenticity: let them think what they want, I really don’t care.

And it’s not just me. Look at the numbers:

• 61% of people worldwide feel pressure to “look well” even when they don’t feel okay inside. (Global Wellbeing Report, Lululemon)
• 59% of teenage girls in Canada admit to feeling unrealistic pressure about how they should look, act, or speak. (Ipsos)
• 61% of workers say they change parts of their personality, appearance, or habits just to fit in at work. (Deloitte)

So if you’ve ever felt like you’re playing a role instead of living your truth you’re not alone. Most of us are carrying this invisible pressure.

A Wedding Story: Choosing My Skin Over Makeup

Fast-forward to my brother’s wedding. As you know, weddings in our culture are full of functions sangeet, haldi, main ceremony, and a hundred smaller rituals.

I don’t like wearing makeup (I love my skin as it is), so I made a deal with myself:

• I’ll do makeup for the main wedding day, sangeet night, and haldi.
• For the smaller functions, I’ll skip it.

Simple, right? Well, not for everyone.

One of my aunts pulled me aside and said, “You have acne, you won’t look good without makeup.”

Now, did that sting? For a second, maybe. But then I remembered something I live by: if I don’t take people’s appreciation too seriously, why should I take their criticism seriously?

So I smiled and did exactly what I wanted: no makeup for those other functions. And honestly? I felt amazing. I felt like me.

That moment reminded me: being yourself isn’t about rebelling against others it’s about respecting your own choices, even in the middle of 200 staring relatives.

If you need solution for acne do read: Pimple Treatment Solution

A Career Story: Choosing Joy Over Judgment

When I quit my job to work on my website, the loudest voice in my head wasn’t excitement it was fear: “What will people think?”

Family? They might say I’m reckless. Colleagues? That I couldn’t handle corporate life. Society? That I’m wasting my degree.

Then I asked myself: Am I sitting here judging their life choices? No. So why should they get to judge mine?

That’s when it clicked.

Being yourself is the flex of choosing joy over judgment. Most people don’t. Most people choose safety, optics, or approval. Choosing yourself? That’s rare power.

Explore: Burnt Toast Theory

The Benefits of Being Yourself

Now, let’s talk about why this struggle is worth it. The benefits of being yourself sneak into your life in ways you don’t expect:

Being Yourself – #1. Inner Peace

You stop playing mental chess with other people’s opinions. (Trust me, that peace feels priceless.)

Being Yourself – #2. Deeper Connections

Did you know 68% of daters prefer someone who is authentically themselves—even if they don’t agree on everything? (Bumble survey) People are drawn to realness.

Being Yourself – #3. More Energy

Pretending is exhausting. Being yourself saves energy you can use for things you actually love.

Being Yourself – #4. Real Confidence

Confidence isn’t about being the loudest in the room it’s about being comfortable in your own skin, even when others don’t clap.

Being Yourself – #5. A Sense of Freedom

Whether it’s skipping makeup, saying no at work, or laughing the way you want you feel lighter when you stop living for others.

How to Be Yourself?

So, how do you actually start? Here are steps I practice daily:

1. Catch the “What Will They Think” Loop

The next time you hesitate, ask: Am I scared of the result or just scared of judgment? If it’s judgment, go ahead anyway.

2. Define Your Core Values

Mine are freedom, creativity, and honesty. What are yours? Write them down they’ll become your compass.

3. Start Small

You don’t need a dramatic life change. Try:

• Wearing the outfit you actually like.
• Skipping makeup if you don’t want it.
• Saying no without overexplaining.

Discover: How to build capsule wardrobe?

4. Reframe Rejection

Not everyone will like you. That’s okay you’re not ice cream; you don’t need to be everyone’s favorite flavor.

5. Choose Your People

If someone only accepts the curated version of you, they’re not your people. Keep the ones who clap for the real you.

Meet my friend and read about the Importance of Childhood Friend.

Quick Reality Check

Let me break the fourth wall for a second: I know some of you are thinking, “Easy for you to say, but I have bills, responsibilities, and family to manage.”

You’re right. Being yourself doesn’t mean abandoning responsibilities. It means aligning them with authenticity. You might not quit your job today but you can stop fake-laughing at jokes, or decline that extra task when you’re already stretched thin.

Being yourself isn’t one big leap it’s a daily practice.

My Takeaway (And Yours)

If there’s one truth I’ve learned, it’s this: being yourself is not selfish it’s survival.

The world doesn’t need more perfect copies. It needs you. Messy, quirky, bold, quiet, loud, creative you.

I’ve written a blog on Rebel Kid, and honestly, I love how unapologetically she is herself. My blog: How Rebel Kid (Apoorva Mukhija) Unlocked My Unapologetic Voice

So the next time you’re about to shrink under the weight of “what will people think”, remember this: they’re not thinking about you as much as you believe. And if they are? That’s their problem.

Promise me this if you ever visit my little corner of the internet again, you’ll try being yourself, just once, without apology. Deal?

FAQ’s on Being Yourself