'Being Ourselves'

It is society's hype to 'Be Ourselves'.
Of course we must.
But it is an idea open to abuse.
And abused by many it is.
It has turned us inwards and unreceptive to change.
Even at times when change is the only way to feel better.

We want to 'Be Ourselves'.
But can we?
Who are we?
What do we want ourselves to be?
Is it realistic at all?
We all say dream the impossible so they will become possible.
But if it is really beyond our means, written in hard truth,
Then wouldn't we be walking in the dark and hurting ourselves?

Do we really want to 'be ourselves' at the expense of everything else?
Even reality?
Those that we should really be paying attention to?
And live in an unreal world where everything else is falling apart,
Just because we can be who we want?
It seems like a long-expired extension of childhood tantrum.

We are born with a basic template of who we are.
Our likes, our tempers, and our traits.
And we go through ordeals that simultaneously make and break us.
We carry baggage of the past.
But that does not mean we don't have a choice.
We can edit the template that is given to us.
We can choose to shape who we are.

To give in to the classic argument of 'being ourselves' as an excuse to change is surrendering to chance.
The indirect refusal to edit the template life has given us.
Which may be good or bad to start with.
It may have its inconsistencies and flaws.
But we can correct them.
We must correct them.
And we may spend a lifetime at it.
But it is always better than mindless acceptance of a flawed self.
'Being ourselves' is no excuse for self-destructive behaviors.
It is like to running into an iceberg in full knowledge of its consequences,
But refusing to change course all for the sake of 'Being Myself'.

We can choose what we believe in.
What we put into our minds.
We can learn.
And they better be the right stuff.
We better make good effort to make sure they are.
Because we alone have to be responsible for it.
And they shape what we define as reality.
And it better be accurate.
The others may tell you otherwise.
But at the end of the day, we are the one to live our lives.
To enjoy its rewards, or its consequences.

And so it is.
It seems 'Being Ourselves' is an idea we will come across and embrace at some point in our lives.
As a safeguard against bad influence perhaps.
But when overdone, the resulting isolation makes one disillusioned about reality.
When seen against the larger backdrop of life,
It is nothing more than an adolescent idea.
One that will serve its purpose for a while but has no future when practiced till the end.
Or one that will simply become an excuse against meaningful change.

'Being Ourselves' is an idea that may seem deterministic in nature.
Like we have control, we are taking control and it is good control.
But when abused we become rigid and unyielding to change.
It becomes an idea that leaves us to chance in an ever changing world.
And unless the odds are forever in our favour,
One day the roll of the dice will put us on the losing side.

The idea was tantalizing.
It has many promises.
When done correctly its promises can be fulfilled.
But those promises are not the end.
When it finally delivers its promises, we must decide what to do with them.
What is our next step.
To weed out inconsistencies in our characters and move forward.

That is finding ourselves.
To not stay at a point and declaring our last stand.
But to keep moving, discovering and correcting.
To define who we are beyond what fate and chance has set.
We are never perfect.
In good spirit we strive to be.
But it will be foolish to believe we can ever be.