“You already know who you are. And that piece, that piece that we’re after lies somewhere beyond personality. Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world. Don’t let anything stand in the way of the light that shines through this form. Risk being seen in all of your glory.” ~Jim Carrey
I would have never guessed that those words would have come out of the mouth of a comedian and actor Jim Carrey.
They make me have a much deeper appreciation for him, especially because I feel like he really believes in what he’s saying. He is the epitome of someone who risked being himself. As a result, he has had an undeniable impact on the world through his talents and his personal acceptance of himself.
But for most of us, the idea of taking a risk of being ourselves is pretty scary. We would rather pretend so that we not only fit in, but we also feel accepted. I don’t understand.
Why do we all crave wanting to be accepted?
I mean who cares?! We get so caught up in the opinions of other people that we lose of our own opinions of ourselves. It’s pretty sad actually when you think about it. Yet Carrey has proven that the way to be accepted – if that is what you want – is to be yourself. He is literally getting paid for deciding to accept himself – flaws, talents and all. That’s the way to be accepted.
And when I say “accepted,” I don’t mean actually being accepted by other people. I mean your accepting yourself. It frees you from everything and everyone. You see, when you accept yourself, you could care less about what people think. Who are they to judge you? They don’t even know you. You know you. And it’s from there that you become free of everyone’s standards, opinions, and expectations. This is your life to live and when you risk being yourself, that’s when you really start to live. That’s when, like Carrey says, you risk being seen in all of your glory.
At the end of the day, I think we all know who parts of who we want to become, but our insecurities and focus on what other people will think holds us back. It’s the typical high school scenario that often continues to get moved over into the real world. (I wish I could go back in time and tell them to my “high school self”.) The fact is, being who you are and accepting yourself for who you are what make unique, different, and the person who you aspire to become.
When we try to be like everyone else or when we don’t accept ourselves, we limit our potential. Like Carrey said, our need for acceptance can actually work against us, making us invisible. Decide that you will start to believe in the brilliance that lies within you. Decide that you will accept your imperfections, because at the end of the day that is what makes you, you.
And most importantly, who are what everyone thinks anyway. Free yourself by accepting yourself.
*I’ll leave you with Jim Carrey’s inspiring commencement speech in which he references the quote above:
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
