To thine own self be true

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Dear Tessie,

What’s more important? Being a team player or sticking to my morals and beliefs? I can be a team player, I’ve been faking and following along for years and years with a smile plastered on my face. But I’m tired of faking and acting, I just want to be true to myself before it breaks me. Help!

Sincerely,

SJ

 

Dear SJ,

My dear, I want you to start by taking a big deep breath. When dealing with the complexities of contradicting morals or core beliefs, I feel like it just takes so much of a harder toll on your entire life. A conflict with a companion over dinner, a stressful moment in your day… those are simply expected.

What you’ve come to is the moment that stops the universe and gives you that awful ache in the pit of your stomach. The paradoxical moment, one that can truly affect your entire being.

Shakespeare is credited with the phrase, “this above all: to thine own self be true.” What is most important is that you remain true to who YOU are. There is no reason, no need, and there are certainly no positives to betraying your own core beliefs. Folks might try to pressure you, might try to convince you that you are a problem, and must be a part of the solution instead, but it’s just not true.

Your mother at some point undoubtedly said to you, “if everyone was jumping off a bridge, would you join them?!”

At the time, you might’ve rolled your eyes, but think on that now. If all the folks are jumping off the bridge… what does your gut tell you to do? Join them so the crowd sticks together and nobody but you has to feel uncomfortable? Or stop… adjust your path, and walk to the garden other side of the bridge instead?

Love,

Tessie