Being genuine is one of the hardest things to do these days. In a society where we try to fit in, where we try to conform, sometimes, being genuine might involve being different. And being different can lead to non-acceptance.
When I was younger, there were times when I would conform to others’ expectations. I occasionally said or did things I thought were expected of me. But in other ways, I was stubborn enough to stick to my guns. To be true to myself. Growing older, I’ve become more and more true to myself. I think my work has helped me be more genuine. You see, adolescents are great to work with. They have a very good bullshit monitor. They know when you are faking it. And consequently, when with my adolescent clients, I am never faking it. I am genuine to a fault, I am upfront about what I do and don’t know. And I self-disclose where appropriate about my past anxieties as a teenager. I think some of them like me better for that. For being real. And therefore connect with me. Sure, I will not connect with all. Because I am only human.
I have tried to take that genuineness which my clients, my close friends and family see, to others. I have kept it real. Sure, it has meant that at times people might reject me for my views. But as long as I know I am being true to myself, it doesn’t bother me any more. Not like it used to as a teenager. I also realise that living life being genuine is so much easier. After all, when you fake it to conform with different groups, there is the pressure of trying to remember who you were trying to be! And that is bloody hard!
Living life being genuine means I stress less around other people. I am not bothered by the need to conform to anyone or anything. I am happy within myself. And that makes life worth living.
How genuine can you be? Or do you find the need to conform?
Do share!
***This post is part of the April A to Z Challenge and the Ultimate Blog Challenge. You can find my other posts here***
Until next time,
Cheers!!!
Ananya Kiran
8 April 2014 at 7:18 amAnother genuine post from a genuine person !
Honestly there will always be a need to conform, guess you can choose Whom do you really want the conform from and Do you want it at the cost of being Untrue to yourself !
Ananya Kiran recently posted…Gullible !
Ananya Kiran
8 April 2014 at 7:18 amAnother genuine post from a genuine person !
Honestly there will always be a need to conform, guess you can choose Whom do you really want the conform from and Do you want it at the cost of being Untrue to yourself !
Ananya Kiran recently posted…Gullible !
Pinky Poinker
8 April 2014 at 7:58 amYour point about having to try to remember who you are supposed to be if you’re a chameleon is so true. An excellent message… getting older helps, and acceptance.
Pinky Poinker recently posted…G is for Getting Pinky to Stay Awake
Pinky Poinker
8 April 2014 at 7:58 amYour point about having to try to remember who you are supposed to be if you’re a chameleon is so true. An excellent message… getting older helps, and acceptance.
Pinky Poinker recently posted…G is for Getting Pinky to Stay Awake
sunila
8 April 2014 at 2:44 pmFully with you PB 🙂 I find it hard to conform to what stuffy ppl or society at large may want and I have never been fussed by it too as its a happy thing being ME 😀
sunila recently posted…Grounding ourselves.
sunila
8 April 2014 at 2:44 pmFully with you PB 🙂 I find it hard to conform to what stuffy ppl or society at large may want and I have never been fussed by it too as its a happy thing being ME 😀
sunila recently posted…Grounding ourselves.
pkdeka
8 April 2014 at 2:49 pmI can’t be ‘me’ in the present world. …. so very true thinking… hard realities… difficult life … good to read your thoughts
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pkdeka
8 April 2014 at 2:49 pmI can’t be ‘me’ in the present world. …. so very true thinking… hard realities… difficult life … good to read your thoughts
pkdeka recently posted…Garden of Happiness !!! #atozchallenge
Shalini
8 April 2014 at 3:09 pmGreat post, there~~ Made me think of how I’m surrounded by chameleons 😛 😛
Shalzzz|Loving Life
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Shalini
8 April 2014 at 3:09 pmGreat post, there~~ Made me think of how I’m surrounded by chameleons 😛 😛
Shalzzz|Loving Life
Check out my latest at TaleofTwoTomatoes
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S(t)ri
8 April 2014 at 3:50 pmOscar Wilde quote – my most fav. one. Yet another food for the souls and mind post from you!! Excellent one PB!!
~S(t)ri
Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
Smile, it makes (y)our day!
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S(t)ri
8 April 2014 at 3:50 pmOscar Wilde quote – my most fav. one. Yet another food for the souls and mind post from you!! Excellent one PB!!
~S(t)ri
Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
Smile, it makes (y)our day!
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floodproofmum
8 April 2014 at 4:44 pmIts always best to be true to yourself. I have ditched friends who were false – the genuine ones are the best, and only, ones to have 🙂
floodproofmum
8 April 2014 at 4:44 pmIts always best to be true to yourself. I have ditched friends who were false – the genuine ones are the best, and only, ones to have 🙂
Beloo Mehra
8 April 2014 at 5:40 pmI think it is such a burdensome and painful thing to be Not Genuine. Why carry all that heaviness of being someone you are not? At the same time I have learnt that what I am today will also change with time, so what may feel genuine today may not be so tomorrow, I guess that’s called growth! 🙂
Beloo Mehra recently posted…G is for Gradual, Law of Graduality; Guidance, An Inner Guidance
Beloo Mehra
8 April 2014 at 5:40 pmI think it is such a burdensome and painful thing to be Not Genuine. Why carry all that heaviness of being someone you are not? At the same time I have learnt that what I am today will also change with time, so what may feel genuine today may not be so tomorrow, I guess that’s called growth! 🙂
Beloo Mehra recently posted…G is for Gradual, Law of Graduality; Guidance, An Inner Guidance
nabanita
8 April 2014 at 6:00 pmI think it’s easy to be genuine when we don’t give in to peer pressure for acceptance…But then it’s not easy to avoid peer pressure…Another relevant post…loving your theme!
nabanita recently posted…G is for feeling Gallant
nabanita
8 April 2014 at 6:00 pmI think it’s easy to be genuine when we don’t give in to peer pressure for acceptance…But then it’s not easy to avoid peer pressure…Another relevant post…loving your theme!
nabanita recently posted…G is for feeling Gallant
sugandha
8 April 2014 at 6:07 pmSo true! great thoughts here
sugandha
8 April 2014 at 6:07 pmSo true! great thoughts here
Soumya
8 April 2014 at 7:41 pmIf you can’t live as yourself, no point living!
Soumya recently posted…F – Friends
Soumya
8 April 2014 at 7:41 pmIf you can’t live as yourself, no point living!
Soumya recently posted…F – Friends
Eli
8 April 2014 at 7:51 pmYup… nodding through your post today:-) Great read with good flow:-) I found it easier to be genuine the older i got.. when others opinions dont matter so much anymore.. Just do my thing no matter what… The hard things can be in work situations – where you sometimes have to compromise.. But still be true to one self is what matters the most:-)
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Eli
8 April 2014 at 7:51 pmYup… nodding through your post today:-) Great read with good flow:-) I found it easier to be genuine the older i got.. when others opinions dont matter so much anymore.. Just do my thing no matter what… The hard things can be in work situations – where you sometimes have to compromise.. But still be true to one self is what matters the most:-)
Eli recently posted…G for Golden Temple
Jayanta Tewari
8 April 2014 at 9:49 pmI also thought about writing on Being Genuine today but then chose a different topic aligning to my theme. Liked your post…To me being genuine always matters…
Jayanta Tewari recently posted…Good Governance Prevails
Jayanta Tewari
8 April 2014 at 9:49 pmI also thought about writing on Being Genuine today but then chose a different topic aligning to my theme. Liked your post…To me being genuine always matters…
Jayanta Tewari recently posted…Good Governance Prevails
Zita
8 April 2014 at 10:35 pmOh I definitely feel the pressure to conform and do what others expect me to do! I am working on working out what it is I want for my life so that I can stop doing that!!! I also feel it is hard to be genuine all the time, I believe we change who we are because of who we are with at the time. The “me” at work is very different to the “me” when I’m with my friends to the “me” I am when I meet someone new for the first time… Sometimes there is nothing wrong with that but it can feel fake!
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Zita
8 April 2014 at 10:35 pmOh I definitely feel the pressure to conform and do what others expect me to do! I am working on working out what it is I want for my life so that I can stop doing that!!! I also feel it is hard to be genuine all the time, I believe we change who we are because of who we are with at the time. The “me” at work is very different to the “me” when I’m with my friends to the “me” I am when I meet someone new for the first time… Sometimes there is nothing wrong with that but it can feel fake!
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Danny Simon
9 April 2014 at 3:13 amGreat post!
Acceptance is something every person desires deep inside..and the temptation to conform so that one doesn’t get rejected is often so strong that it’s not easy to resist.
But love the quote again, be yourself because everyone else is taken. Too many times, we end up becoming somebody else so that we fit into society.
Danny Simon recently posted…G for Giver
Danny Simon
9 April 2014 at 3:13 amGreat post!
Acceptance is something every person desires deep inside..and the temptation to conform so that one doesn’t get rejected is often so strong that it’s not easy to resist.
But love the quote again, be yourself because everyone else is taken. Too many times, we end up becoming somebody else so that we fit into society.
Danny Simon recently posted…G for Giver
Sitara Nair
9 April 2014 at 5:12 amEvery single being around you wants you to conform according to his likes n dislikes….
Its your prerogative that decides
Sitara Nair recently posted…Gist of life………….
Sitara Nair
9 April 2014 at 5:12 amEvery single being around you wants you to conform according to his likes n dislikes….
Its your prerogative that decides
Sitara Nair recently posted…Gist of life………….
Laurel Regan
9 April 2014 at 7:33 amI can’t say I’ve ever been one to conform – always had a rebellious streak! Being genuine is so important when it comes to relationships of all kinds.
Laurel Regan recently posted…Blogging from A to Z Challenge – G is for…
Laurel Regan
9 April 2014 at 7:33 amI can’t say I’ve ever been one to conform – always had a rebellious streak! Being genuine is so important when it comes to relationships of all kinds.
Laurel Regan recently posted…Blogging from A to Z Challenge – G is for…
Shilpa Garg
9 April 2014 at 11:14 pmI believe, not only adolescents but everybody is able to identify a fake person, sooner or later and a relationship with such a person will not last for long! I so agree, with your picture quote!! Being genuine is what I believe in too!
Shilpa Garg recently posted…H is to Hold
Shilpa Garg
9 April 2014 at 11:14 pmI believe, not only adolescents but everybody is able to identify a fake person, sooner or later and a relationship with such a person will not last for long! I so agree, with your picture quote!! Being genuine is what I believe in too!
Shilpa Garg recently posted…H is to Hold
Nibha
12 April 2014 at 8:06 pmBeing genuine is never easy.. I try hard to be but still have to act accordingly at times..
Nibha recently posted…Keeping Quiet
Nibha
12 April 2014 at 8:06 pmBeing genuine is never easy.. I try hard to be but still have to act accordingly at times..
Nibha recently posted…Keeping Quiet
Richa Singh
19 April 2014 at 2:56 amThat quote about everybody else never seems to not bring a smile to me, it is sooo true.. no?
Richa Singh recently posted…Permanently Peeved
Richa Singh
19 April 2014 at 2:56 amThat quote about everybody else never seems to not bring a smile to me, it is sooo true.. no?
Richa Singh recently posted…Permanently Peeved