The cliche admonition to "be yourself" has found new life in current popular culture as the updated anthem: Do You. Although it feels like a motto for the younger crowd - its foremost proponents being the likes of Beyonce and Kanye West - I'd like to go on the record as a big fan of the life approach, if not of the phrase itself.
According to Urban Dictionary, "Doing you is when you lose all regard for other people's opinions and are finally at peace with yourself." In other words, prioritize yourself and live according to your values.
Living in any other way means allowing emotional clutter to take over. So:
- Don't let guilt, fear, shame or other negative emotions rule your life. Or your closet! Let go of the stuff you don't want and of the guilt you feel in doing so.
- You owe it to yourself to make the best possible decisions, whether it's choosing a career path or choosing what to invite into your space versus what to trash, donate or simply say "no" to.
- And don't apologize to anyone for honoring your own needs and preferences. The social pressure to be perfect, with perfection defined narrowly by influencers such as retailers and media, is greater than ever. Don't succumb to it. Just do you.