The Meaning of 'Be Yourself'
by Nobutaka SAEKI
When people praise your hometown (or the music you like, the clothes you wear, etc.), don't you feel as if you've just been praised by them?Everything you like is already part of yourself. "Be yourself" doesn't mean you have to keep doing something different from other people (for the sake of being different).
Because each person has different experiences, there is no one else who likes exactly the same things as you do. Therefore, if you find many things that you like, you will automatically develop a marked individuality (and see more to like about yourself).
Each realization that you "like" something that you casually come into contact with forms your uniqueness. Try to realize that you like it.
The things that make you happy are whatever you like to do or like to have. Everything in this world is here to make us happy. However, those things that make you really happy are very hard to get. Because you have to struggle hard to obtain them (such as a healthy body, a happy family, or world peace).
For example, people usually don't realize how the value of a glass of water changes. You won't appreciate the glass of water if you have only lived in the situation where you can drink any amount of water whenever you want.
But if you are climbing a mountain without water, struggling very hard to get to the top, and you have water when you finally get there, then you can't believe how tasty the water will be. In other words, struggle was necessary to enjoy the real benefit of water.
It is not things that make you happy, but the struggle for them. Struggle towards what you really like.
As you may realize from the Japanese proverb "hunger is the best seasoning for food," bad things can't just be bad things. So, don't complain. Rather, the more severe the suffering, the greater the happiness can be. However, this depends on whether you have a strong enough life force to apply this idea to reality. Try to "like" the suffering, actively.
Anyway, in order to "be yourself," one has to find what one really wants to do. All of the answers are in your heart. This means if you do something wrong, your heart doesn't feel good. But if you have done something that made your heart feel really, really good, that's the truth. That's what you really like to do.
Reading good books will make it easier to find what you really like. Once you find a better "like," try to stick to it. Don't give in to your weak mind to do lesser "like" things. This is the mental struggle, which will develop strong discipline. And eventually, this trial and error will lead you to your unique mission that makes you truly happy.
Be yourself!