Who is the real you The person you really are may be hidden within the layers you have built over the years

Who is the real you

The person you really are may be hidden within the layers you have built over the years


WHEN two Sundays ago this column (Ozone,Dec 9 Time Never Stands Still ) mentioned that neither changing circumstances nor people can affect your balance so long as your core as a human being remains the same,I was inundated with requests to write about ones core as a human being!
Simply put,your core is your real,essential self the authentic you,the person you are when you shed all pretences.Thats the easy part;what is more difficult is tearing down the perception you have of your real self! For,all of us come to adopt an image of ourselves that we believe in very early in life,and then live trapped in that image for the rest of our lives.In doing so,we forget to understand who we really are,what makes us tick and what is true happiness or the real purpose of our lives.
And so,a child who may have had to deal with difficult parents withdraws into himself and lives the rest of his life convinced he is an introvert;a girl who may have been complimented for little else than her looks,may start focusing on her looks to the exclusion of all else.Someone who is appreciated for their sense of humour,may start believing that is their calling card.If smartness benefitted you in early childhood,you start believing yourself to be clever.But how sure are you that this is the real you Most probably the person you really are is hidden within the layers you have built over the years.
Add to that the pressures of fitting into predetermined slots and measuring up to expectations of punishing fitness routines,cosmetic surgery,and makeovers;of faking it to measure up,pushing yourself beyond limits,and doing things that you intrinsically dont agree with and your core self is too deeply hidden to even flutter in protest! Everyone wishes to be someone he or she isnt.Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like clawing the walls in frustration or getting out of your body,so to speak,and walking away At such times,you are obviously being forced to do something that runs contrary to your true self;something your very being rebels against!
Psychotherapist Stephen Cope,author of Yoga and the Quest for the True Self,says that people are aware of a sense of self-estrangement,and understand that they are not living lives according to their true authentic selves,their deepest possibilities in the world.The result is a sense of near-desperation. Healing this,he feels,would lead us to a new sense of purpose and to a deeper,more satisfying life.
Being true to your real self,psychiatrists tell us,induces psychological well-being as it leads to a feeling of higher self-esteem and satisfaction,and hence happiness.People who are true to themselves also have better coping skills and are mentally and physically,healthier.
But how can one discover ones core self Read on... Understand that to be the real you a certain amount of selfishness is necessary! Your focus has to shift to yourself.Who are you really And what do you want The first step is to understand yourself and know your priorities listen to your mind and body language.Know your strengths;more important,know your weaknesses.Have the confidence to be yourself and not copy anyone else.Make it a habit to look your best and feel good all the time.Nurture your mind with stimulating conversations,reads,and other challenging activities.What are the things that give you happiness Indulge in them.Often.When are you most uncomfortable and irritated Shun those activities.Focus on your most important relationships and dont waste time with negative souls.Dream big,and empower yourself to fulfil those dreams!





We adopt an image of ourselves early in life,and then live trapped in it for the rest of our lives

Its Your Life Best of O-zone by Vinita Dawra Nangia.Available at leading bookstores and shopping.indiatimes.com.Or call 8010058888/8010558888.for doorstep delivery