December 6th, 2024

Learning to Be Who I Am

Hey friends,

I came across this quote by Albert Camus recently, and wow, did it hit me:

“Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.”

It’s one of those lines that feels so simple at first, but then it sits with you, poking at all the corners of your mind. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much it connects to my own life—how much time I’ve spent refusing to just be me.

I’ve always felt this pull to be more—more successful, more put-together, more of whatever I thought people expected of me. Somewhere along the way, I picked up this idea that who I am isn’t enough. And it’s exhausting, isn’t it? Constantly feeling like you’re chasing a version of yourself that doesn’t quite exist.

But here’s the thing: no other creature does this. Dogs don’t sit around wondering if they’re being good enough dogs. Birds aren’t stressing about whether they’re flying as well as other birds. They just are. But humans? We’re constantly trying to shape-shift, to live up to expectations—our own or someone else’s—and it’s like we forget how to just be.

For me, this shows up in so many ways. Like when I try to fit into a mold that doesn’t feel right just to avoid disappointing someone. Or when I push myself to work harder, look better, be more, instead of pausing to ask, “What do I really want?”

Lately, I’ve been working on undoing all that—on learning how to be me. Not the version of me that’s perfectly curated or socially acceptable, but the real, messy, sometimes chaotic me. And let me tell you, it’s harder than it sounds.

It means learning to sit with my own thoughts, to stop running from the parts of myself I’ve been avoiding. It means accepting that I don’t have to have all the answers, that I’m allowed to make mistakes, and that I don’t have to have it all figured out to still be worthy.

And you know what I’m realizing? When I stop trying to be something I’m not, I feel lighter. I feel free. It’s like shedding a heavy coat I didn’t even realize I was wearing.

Being who you are doesn’t mean you stop growing or evolving—it just means you start from a place of honesty. You say, “This is me, as I am right now.” And then you grow from there, not because you’re trying to be someone else, but because you’re leaning into who you’ve always been.

So, here’s my question for you: What’s one way you’ve been refusing to be who you are? Maybe it’s hiding a part of yourself, or pretending to be okay when you’re not, or saying yes to things that don’t align with your heart.

And what’s one thing you can do to start embracing who you are, right now? Maybe it’s as simple as being honest with yourself, or as big as making a change you’ve been scared to make. Whatever it is, I’d love to hear about it. Let’s talk in the comments, or message me if you’re feeling shy.

Thanks for sharing this moment with me, for being part of this journey. We’re all figuring it out together.

Until next time,
Marjoly 🌿