(A Notes to Self Series)

Quote for Wednesday, 13 March 2019

“Be yourself; everyone else is taken.”

-Oscar Wilde

Being oneself seems to be utterly moot and academic. We are already ourselves, so why do we need to be ourselves? Right?

That’s so true.

In our immense desire to succeed, we tend to focus on others successes more. Of course it’s good to be inspired by what others have accomplished, it’s one way we’d be able to learn what we should do and what not to do. It’s great to reach out because we were not created to be alone. It’s noble to go beyond ourselves and think of others more by trying to help others in need as well.

However, anything that is more than enough is too much.

• If we tend to often compare ourselves who are better than ourselves, we may become extremely disappointed and “bitter.” To even think of somebody else as of lesser quality than our own selves’ especially if with an intent to disrespect, downgrade or cause undue disadvantage is tantamount to haughtiness among all else. What’s even worse is when overly comparing ourselves stops us from becoming better.
• Excessive confidence is bad; lack of self-confidence isn’t good either. Balance is great.
• By looking at others’ experiences, we avoid the pitfalls they’ve encountered and work our way to emulate their successes. That’s a fine idea. However, when losing ourselves meant losing our unique qualities, strengths, noble ideals, virtues, rights or dignity, then that’s when we need to really stop and think.
• It may be good to fit in, to go with the crowd, to do our part, to join the bandwagon, to retain the status quo, to go for what’s popular or to accept and be acceptable to others. However, it’s when doing so already means disregarding what we believe is true, fair, just or beneficial that we need to keep still and reflect further.
• It’s great to help, but we cannot give what we don’t have. We can do so in the way we could.

This quote is quite memorable because it used to be the catchphrase of a notable institution that I used to work for where everyone is honed, developed, and encouraged to learn and pursue the path one would choose to go for.

A more holistic perspective makes more sense. Indeed, we need to look at external threats and opportunities. It’s also realistic to gauge our weaknesses so we’d know what we have to solve. However, we shouldn’t forget to look at and capitalise on our strengths as well.

As they say, you couldn’t judge a fish by its inability to climb a tree.

What do you think?

I’m looking forward to knowing your thoughts.

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Credit goes to the following sources/resources for this and my other posted blog quotes:

• Goodreads and BrainyQuotes for the quotes,
• Wave.video for the videos or photos,
• WordPress and Canva for some of the photos and graphics, and
• Wikipedia for more information for the quotes’ writers.

Check out all my other previous hopeful and optimistic quotes on this blog here.

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