A friend of mine always wears bright coloured sneakers wherever he goes. He has been doing this for over 10 years and shared his story of how it began. He was always fond of wearing coloured sneakers and one day, 10 years ago, he went to a formal event and had forgotten to change his shoes. He was feeling awkward being there in coloured sneakers when an 87-year-old lady sensing his discomfort smiled and said to him – ‘be who you are’. These words changed his approach to life.

So often we want to do something or express ourselves in a particular way but we lack the confidence and courage because it is different than the way most people do things. When we stop worrying about what the world may say or think, and start expressing ourselves, we start living true to who we are.

The expectation of others often shapes our thinking. Of course, there are times we need to be mindful and sensitive to some of their expectations. However, we can start being who we truly are when we express ourselves with authenticity and start gaining their acceptance.

It is easy to live a life conforming and being one with the crowd. It doesn’t mean we need to be rebellious or do everything differently. But if the few things which we really want to do get suppressed, over time we may even forget them and they may never get an opportunity of expression. A life unexpressed is not a life truly lived.

When we break our mental shackles and find it in ourselves to express the colours within, we start experiencing a different joy beyond the regular happiness of life, not because we have chosen to be different to prove a point, but because we have learned to be who we are.

(Picture – Grand Canal, Venice)