"Be true to yourself." What does that even mean?
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- :::: Travis Keller ::::
- reading, thinking, hopeful, broken, forgiven, learning, growing, rich, poor, teaching, following
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Status :: Married, Sarah
Children :: Kyla
Religion :: Follower of Jesus
Residence :: Mount Vernon OH
Political Views :: Unassociated
Occupation :: Resident Director, MVNU
Student :: NNU
Major :: M.A.R. Missional Leadership
Children :: Kyla
Religion :: Follower of Jesus
Residence :: Mount Vernon OH
Political Views :: Unassociated
Occupation :: Resident Director, MVNU
Student :: NNU
Major :: M.A.R. Missional Leadership
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Travis & Sarah.
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Doubt...
When I hear the word church...
If you had to accept a label, which would it be?
To which issue/injustice must people most urgently respond and/or reform?
Should one vote when all candidtates adhere to a position(s) and/or practice(s) that is/are contrary to that of a follower of Jesus?
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10 comments:
It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just fluff or pointless drivel that people say to one another. I’ve done a little research and have found the origins of this saying have their roots in the public school systems of the American Midwest. The earliest documented accounts of this saying being written are in high school yearbooks. “Be true to yourself” also reached the height of popularity the same time that “never change” came into fashion.
Hope this helps.
Lee
nice Lee.
I had the same thought!
in this comment is there some reflection of an appeal to humanism?
I like it better than, "be false to yourself" (Of course that doesn't go well in a yearbook anyway). It probably means something to the effect of "do what you want to do". If it were a suggestion about personal honesty it might be worth while but I don't think that's the intention.
B.H.W.Y (Be Honest With Yourself) Don't stay the same (or you'll be a really immature 50 year old).
Peace...
jb
i was about to write something about a phrase on the back of a senior picture along with 'never change', but I see that Lee has already wrote that which i wanted to contribute.
here's to you, mr. you-said-what-i-was-going-to-say-before-me.
dang it.
I find this phrase to be a mixture of cheesiness and profundity...that is, on the one hand it has become a yearbook cliche that reflects our focus on our interior, private feelings and obsession with our "selves". Yet, this cliche is also at the bottom of much decision-making in our lives ("That just does or doesn't feel right")
On the other hand, I wonder if at it's best it can remind us that authenticity matters. How many times have I not said what I am thinking/feeling out of fear or out of a desire to be accepted? There seems to need to be a balance between focusing solely on myself and what I want and feel and being authentic or "true" in who I am...but of course it is just a phrase in need of a larger narrative to make sense out of it.
"Be true to yourself" could have a profound message when interpreted from a different perspective.
"Don't lie to yourself" or don't try to make something mean what it was not meant to mean.
Or-- do not violate your conscience. Perhaps be true/loyal to your convictions.
Or, does it mean to "take care of yourself" and to heck with caring for others?
What did the first person intend who used the phrase and has its repeated use changed the original meaning/thought?
Perhaps the misinterpretation is now accepted as the original thought?
Lee is probably right that most people use it as pointless drivel.
So, I close with -- be resolved to be truthful.
dad, you rock.
I think it comes maybe from Shakesphere. To thine own self be true is somewhere in something he wrote. Americans just stole it and modernized the phrasing and took credit for it.
Hi Travis.
I don't have much input about your most recent most, but I just found your site (through deweber) and I wanted to say hello. Give my greetings to your girls for me. Maybe I'll run into you the next time I'm in the Vern.
Peace,
Kelli (Shearron) Blinn
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