5 Ways to Be Cool & Aunthentically You
We live in a world where society or shall I say social media dictates who’s cool and what’s cool. We become obsessed as images and content refreshes at our fingertips imposing a false sense of reality. When I launched my website my goal was to honestly tap into my experiences and feelings on navigating adulthood. In order to do that, I had to be authentic. I couldn’t hold back and I couldn’t sugarcoat it. I had to be real and keep it real. So how do you stand out in a space that is infiltrated with many people saying the same old thang? It’s hard to find your voice in a world full of noise, but the people who stand out and win are those who run to the beat of their own drum. It’s not about being in the moment, it’s really all about longevity.
So I took a page from starlets Zoë Kravitz and Willow Smith on how they’ve managed to stay authentic. They are shifting paradigms by just being themselves. Here are some ways to be cool and authentically you:
Be Confident
“Everyone is looking at everyone else to see what’s cool. So it’s just all about a level of confidence. When anyone sets out to be cool it becomes contrived. Cool just means ‘I agree with this in this moment,’” Zoë Kravitz told Teen Vogue.
Material things can’t make you cool, it’s what you stand for that speaks volume. Purchasing the latest trendy look and rocking the latest fad is a facade. Can you be confident when you aren’t doing what’s deemed trendy? Stand out from the crowd by being confident. Seeing someone who stands and lives in their truth is what I believe to be cool. Your truth includes your ideas and beliefs that you firmly hold on too despite what other people think. After you wash off your contoured “beat for the gawds” face or put away your Yeezys, you’re just you. So when working on your personal brand, remove all the fluff and be confident in the core of what makes you, you.
Discover the Artisan in You
An artisan is a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand. You don’t have to be a craftsman, but you do need to identify your passions and what makes you great. Discover your best skill and then invest, develop and practice it. This will eliminate the time you would spend trying to emulate someone else’s uniqueness. Every day we have a front row seat to Insta-celebrity, but what works for them won’t always work for you or be for you. Success comes when your authenticity shines through in your work captivating an audience that appreciates what you stand for.
Don’t Let Them Restrict You
Millennials are a part of a generation of “backslashers.” We are multi-talented and skilled in many things and we embrace it. However, many people don’t understand the concept between 9 to 5/passion, and will try to limit you to one label. Don’t let them restrict you! Our versatility is unique and our ability to diversify our income speaks volumes. I think we suppress our passions or other talents because we don’t know how to monetize it or we think it’s lame. What we fail to realize is that we are not defined by our 9 to 5, which is why we are backslashers. We are a sum of our passions, desires, and experiences. That unique quality or hobby of yours can open many doors. Be proud to say you are an accountant/rockstar.
Be Happily Imperfect
“When I think of my version of a role model, it’s not about being the perfect Samaritan; it’s just being out there and being honest and happily imperfect,” Zoë Kravitz shared with Teen Vogue.
Humans are perfectly flawed and embracing that concept allows you to live authentically. I remember feeling like I could only share good news on social media. I didn’t want people to know how hard NYC was for me, so I either stayed off of it or only posted the things that looked good. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has done this. I use to hide my job search woes, but when I started to share my story I began to release the negativity that I was carrying around. When you accept your situation you can start to be happy. Being open about reality can create a dialogue with other people who empathize with you. Life is real and we may not handle everything that comes our way perfectly, but realize that people will appreciate you flaws and all.
Stop Finding Yourself Create Yourself
“I had to sit down and say, ‘Who are you? On a real note. Are you this or this? But then I stopped trying to find myself in these other inanimate objects, people, and ideas. I realized it isn’t about finding yourself—it’s about creating yourself,” Willow Smith shared.
If you were on a stranded island with nobody or nothing to persuade you or shape your identity how would you see yourself? Strip yourself from material things and societal labels. Define yourself and then build from there. It starts with your roots and who you are the child of, it continues with how you were raised and grows with your experiences. You’re on your way to creating the life you want and living authentically.