- “The pressures on gay teens can be overwhelming–to keep secrets, tell lies, deny who you are, and try to be who you’re not. Remember: you are special and worth being cared about, loved, and accepted just as you are. Never, ever let anyone convince you otherwise.” ― Alex Sanchez
- When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you. Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching)
- “When you become fully and openly yourself, living your own truth, you will inspire certain people to do the same. You may likely also trigger the discomfort and insecurities of others who are still trying to find a way to become their true selves and to live their truths. This defensive, projective reaction has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them and where they are in their journey. For it is a mere egoic reflection of their own emotions, perceptions, and experiences — which often occurs on the subconscious level, without them noticing. Down deep inside, you see, most know the inner work must be done. Yet their egos usually stand in their way; by making it a habit to constantly keep looking for excuses, in order to justify their inability, inaction, or lack of courage. If some will occasionally take it out on you, reckon that it’s their story they’re mirroring, not yours. We should actually be kind and compassionate to them anyway. They need it the most. After all, Love is the way.” ― Omar Cherif
- A contrarian isn’t one who always objects – that’s a conformist of a different sort. A contrarian reasons independently, from the ground up, and resists pressure to conform. Naval Ravikant
- Be yourself and let others be themselves and this life, this planet, can become the lotus paradise here-now. Osho
- Only dead fish go with the flow. Derek Sivers
- Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. Dr. Seuss
- The tighter you cling to your current identity, the harder it becomes to grow beyond it. James Clear
- “When you become fully and openly yourself, living your own truth, you will inspire certain people to do the same. You may likely also trigger the discomfort and insecurities of others who are still trying to find a way to become their true selves and to live their truths. This defensive, projective reaction has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them and where they are in their journey. For it is a mere egoic reflection of their own emotions, perceptions, and experiences — which often occurs on the subconscious level, without them noticing. Down deep inside, you see, most know the inner work must be done. Yet their egos usually stand in their way; by making it a habit to constantly keep looking for excuses, in order to justify their inability, inaction, or lack of courage. If some will occasionally take it out on you, reckon that it’s their story they’re mirroring, not yours. We should actually be kind and compassionate to them anyway. They need it the most. After all, Love is the way.” ― Omar Cherif
- This above all: to thine own self be true. William Shakespeare (Hamlet)
- Train yourself to take nothing personally. Robert Greene
- “You are unique. You have different talents and abilities. You don’t have to always follow in the footsteps of others. And most important, you should always remind yourself that you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing and have a responsibility to develop the talents you have been given.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
- “Nobody is normal once you get to know them.” ― J.W. Lynne, The Unknown
- I would rather die having spoken in my manner, than speak in your manner and live. Socrates
- Be in the world, but don’t let the world be in you. Love, and yet don’t be lost in it. Relate, and yet be alone, utterly alone. Know perfectly well that all relationship is a game: play the game and play it as beautifully as possible and as skillfully as possible. Osho
- You must always be prepared to place a bet on yourself, on your future, by heading in a direction that others seem to fear. Robert Greene
- One must know oneself. Even if it does not help in finding truth, at least it helps in running one’s life, and nothing is more proper. Blaise Pascal
- “Rule your mind or it will rule you.” ― Horace
- “You don’t need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are!” ― John Lennon
- Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at anytime and be yourself. Hermann Hesse (Siddhartha)
- Understand: you are one of a kind. Your character traits are a kind of chemical mix that will never be repeated in history. There are ideas unique to you, a specific rhythm and perspective that are your strengths, not your weaknesses. You must not be afraid of your uniqueness. Robert Greene
- The simplest means of procuring protection from other men is security of quiet solitude and withdrawal from the mass of people. Epicurus
- “Every morning when I wake up, I experience an exquisite joy —the joy of being Salvador Dalí— and I ask myself in rapture: What wonderful things is this Salvador Dalí going to accomplish today?” ― Salvador Dalí
- “Stop comparing yourself to others. Always strive to improve yourself to become better today than you were yesterday to serve those around you and the world.” ― Roy T. Bennett
- Our own life has to be our message. Thich Nhat Hanh
- “Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect.” ― Brené Brown
- The more labels you have for yourself, the dumber they make you. Paul Graham
- “To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are.” ― Roy T. Bennett
- “Plants are more courageous than almost all human beings: an orange tree would rather die than produce lemons, whereas instead of dying the average person would rather be someone they are not.” ― Mokokoma Mokhonoana
- “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ― Oscar Wilde