Do you ever look at someone and wish you were them? No, not the way you wish you were Beyoncé, everybody wants to be her. I mean someone in your town or on your social media. Do you ever look at their life and just wish that you could have it that way too? It sucks, doesn't it? I've been there. I know what it feels like to see someone and wish so badly that you could be them just for a day. Sometimes, you even try to make their image into yours too.

So, you try to 'reinvent' yourself. Over time, you start to change the little things, maybe your appearance or your wardrobe. The way you talk or your interests. Slowly but surely, you try to morph yourself into this false image of what you perceive these people to be. It feels good at first, but something you're not realizing is that you're losing your true self in the process. You try to change your interests to cater to whatever those popular people like, but it doesn't quite feel right, does it?

It never will.

I'll let you in on a little secret. Those people who you believe have the life that you want, I guarantee you that they don't have it as together as you think. It's a façade, and the truth that hides behind it isn't as pretty as you think. The more that they try to make you believe that they have it all, the harder they're trying to hide something. Popularity isn't transparent, and you don't know what goes on behind closed doors. The truth is, that perfect life they live is to cover up the ugly parts. Yeah, they have a nice house and cool friends, but that isn't who they are as a person. They might get a lot of followers and likes on their Instagram, but that isn't the truth to who they are. Someday, the truth about those people you once looked up to will come out, and it won't be pretty.

It's okay to idolize people, but don't idolize them for the wrong reasons. Idolize people who worked hard for the life they live or for the nice things they do for people. Not because everybody has their eyes on them. Even more so, stop trying too hard to be someone who you aren't. It is perfectly 100% okay to be your authentic self. So you like a show that some people consider a little geeky? Who cares? Do your tastes differ from what's popular nowadays? That's fine! You'd rather shop at Goodwill instead of Forever21? It's not a problem! There is only one version of you on this planet, so why try so hard to be someone else? Your aesthetic doesn't measure your value.

There is absolutely no shame in being who you are. If people don't like it, ask yourself this— Do you want that kind of negativity in your life? Do you want to change everything about yourself to be seen as valid in someone else's eyes?

The harder you try to become someone else, the unhappier you will be. I can promise you that because I've lived it. Losing your true self to peer pressure isn't worth anything that comes along with pretending to be someone else. You'll start to carry a heavy weight on your shoulders of who you wish you were and who you truly are. The harder you try to change, the heavier that weight will get.

Once upon a time, I was trying so hard to be someone who I wasn't. I felt like every move I made had to be perfectly orchestrated to fit whatever it was I was trying to be. Every day, it got harder and harder to even just exist. Everything I said or did, I was asking myself 'would they do this?' and it was exhausting. Once I realized that it just wasn't who I was, I was so much happier. A lot of my anxiety went away, I wasn't so worried about what other people would think because I was busy doing things that made me happy. Looking back, I wish I had known that sooner. I wish I hadn't tried so hard to become something that I just wasn't. I wasted so much time trying to be someone else and I missed out on so many things that would've made me happy. I was too busy giving in to the image of what I wanted to be, it nearly stripped me of everything I actually was.

Life is too short to live it doing what other people want you to do. Just be yourself, you'll find all the freedom that you need in that.

So, do what makes you happy. Invest your time and your interests into something that brings you joy, not something that helps you pretend you're someone else. There is only one you, just be whoever that is. Everything else will fall into place. I promise.