You as Art
The Challenge of Being Yourself
"To be yourself in a world that is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else is the hardest battle any human being can fight." – E.E. Cummings
E.E. Cummings, a famous poet, defied conventional style and believed that art reflected individuality and originality. His legacy reminds us how difficult yet essential it is to resist societal pressures and embrace who we truly are.
Humanity as Art
I believe all of us are a piece of art, a piece of poetry down to the cellular level. We are built up of tiny and complex atoms and molecules. Something about our human design is original and intricate, just like art.
I look at my boys and see art transform before my eyes every day. My youngest son is a ball of wildfire—bright, happy, hard to tame, yet always wanting to help, noticing the small details that my oldest son and I often miss. He reminds me to stay present.
My oldest son is quirky, introspective, intelligent, and sensitive. He has asked deep philosophical questions since he was three years old. Yet these are only small glimpses; there are still layers within him he has yet to discover.
The Judgment Against Authenticity
The other day, I was having a discussion about being true to yourself with my oldest son. He said, “Isn’t it funny how people tell you to be yourself, but then when you are, they judge you?” And he’s right.
It’s incredibly hard to stubbornly insist on being yourself in a world that often tells you you’re wrong. Yet I think about the artists, novelists, songwriters, and poets who were rejected for daring to be different. Had E.E. Cummings conformed, the world would have lost a new vision of what poetry could be.
If you're exploring what it means to stay true to yourself despite judgment, you might also enjoy my reflection on being yourself and the courage it requires.
When we persist in holding onto our individuality—despite rejection—we inspire others. We show them it’s possible to be who they truly are too, even if not everyone understands it.
The Beauty of Authenticity
It can feel scary to be yourself. People will judge you, reject you, criticize you, and pressure you to conform. It’s easy to second guess yourself. But I have learned: people will reject you even if you pretend to be someone you're not.
As Edwin Elliot said, "By being yourself you put something beautiful into the world that was not there before."
Therapy for Those Struggling to Be Themselves
If you're afraid of being yourself, reach out for a free 15-minute consultation and see if therapy is right for you. Virtual therapy available across Texas and face-to-face in Houston.