Editors Note: This article is VERY important so read it over and over again if needed.  I have spent years of my life comparing myself to my older brother, and other individuals who seem to excel more than me.  In this article allow yourself to own what is beautiful about you, and learn how to Be You. ~Nitika~

I used to spend a lot of my energy desiring to be other people other than myself. My older sister was known for being incredibly smart. And, I always wished I had her talent in math and science. My younger sister is an incredible swimmer and I wanted to be able to glide through the water as effortlessly as she did. My cousin is insanely creative and crafty. My roommate in college had the best hair. Another friend always had a boyfriend while it seemed like I was always the ‘’single” friend. My other friend seemed to handle problematic situations with ease and grace, while I was overrun with anxiety and stress.

I yearned to be like other people in my life who seemed to have it better. Why wasn’t I funnier? Smarter? Cooler? Prettier? My first reaction was that I needed to work harder to have it all. I pushed myself to be what I thought was perfect. It was not fun, and I lost who I was. I watched my diet strictly. I worked out constantly. I dressed in more stylish clothes that would make me seem cool and trendy. I had a snappy attitude because I thought “bitchy” was “cool.” I wore a lot of make up. I studied really hard in school. I worked at three different jobs so that I would never be able to sit, relax, and be with myself because myself wasn’t good enough. I could always be better, and I had to work endlessly if I wanted to get ”there.”

A year and a half ago, something hit me. I realized that “there”, was never going to be “here.” I had two choices: I could keep pushing and working myself to be this ideal, perfect person while always falling short, or I could just throw my hands in the air, and be who I am today. I went for the latter.
After I made my choice, things became a whole lot easier. I learned more about myself. For instance, I don’t like make up, and rarely wear it. I enjoy writing in a journal. I don’t like trendy clothes, and would be happy to spend my days in spandex and oversized sweaters. I really like self-help books and chick lit. I’m a good listener, and really good at writing papers. I can’t take naps. I love eighties music and Disney music. I still have my teddy bear. I feel better in and out now that I am a vegan. I figured out that I was spending so much time trying to be a person who I thought would one day down the road be incredible that I was missing how cool I am right now.

Why is it so hard to just be you? I now ask myself this whenever I find myself wishing I was someone else who I am perceiving as smarter, prettier, cooler, or better than me. Here are a few things you can do to remind yourself that being you right now is just what you need to be doing.

Be You Tips:
1. Don’t compare or contrast. Everyone is different, and that’s how it should be. People love you for being you, not anyone else. So don’t try and be someone else!

2. Make a list of 100 facts about you. I did this on my own blog and it was so much fun! I wound up learning so much about myself along the way.

3. Give up the hunt for perfection. You are never going to be perfect. You aren’t supposed to be. I remember a friend once telling me that not everyone was going to like me in this world, and that was fine. We try to be perfect to please others than ourselves and once we stop doing that, life gets so much easier.

4. Do things you know you enjoy. I love wandering around the villages in NYC. I love dinner with my friends. I love reading. I love Disney movies. I love calling my mom in the morning. I accept what I love and make sure I incorporate it into my life.

5. Go with what feels right. There are always going to be those times when outside forces are putting pressure on you to be someone you aren’t, do things you don’t want to, or act in a way that doesn’t feel right with you. Think about how you feel, and you’ll be sure to stay true to you.

** This article was written by guest contributor Bevin Reilly, for her bio and contact information please visit http://yourbellalife.com/guest-contributors/