Have you ever wished that you could switch places with someone else? Have you ever worked to emulate the style and mannerisms of a certain celebrity? Does the grass always seem greener on the other side and it would just be easier if you could be someone else? According to the late Kurt Cobain, these kinds of thoughts can be terribly misguided. He once said:
Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.
It’s far too easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others, because you may have the tendency to view their lives through rose-tinted glasses. In trying to become someone else, the best possible outcome is that you become a lesser version of that other person. By contrast, if you work hard to become the best YOU that you can be, you have the potential to achieve so much more.
We are all unique and we all have something special to offer to this world. It may take you some time to discover your calling in life and it may take even longer to define the meaning of success, but you’ll get there if you’re willing to put in the effort. Just because someone else seems to be achieving a great deal of success from professional blogging, real estate sales, or fashion consulting doesn’t mean that you should necessarily be following in their footsteps either. In doing so, you’ll always be one step behind. You need to blaze your own trail and be a step ahead.
It is certainly inviting to fall into line and do what is expected of you, but it is far more interesting and life is far more worthwhile when you take the time to find your own way. Do you really want to be normal? I don’t think any of us want to lead a mediocre existence and in trying to achieve something extraordinary, we need to take risks. But these have to be your own risks (and mistakes) and not the same mistakes as someone else.
Life is a very special gift. Don’t waste it by trying to be someone else.
To envy is a sin.
Envy is not what this was all about. The whole idea or meaning from this post was that people don’t know everything about themselves and could strive harder to be the best they can be at what they have already been doing to be the best.
As an example, I am in the technology business and I wish I could be Bill Gates, but I don’t envy him or his his money because he has it and I don’t. I want to be Bill gates because he took a product he bought for less than $50,000 and sold IBM on his licensing of it. The rest is history. I wish I could be him to have the vision, to be a better thinker, to have the knowledge he has about technology. I need to strive more to be more like him.
I would prefer to not have the goofy glasses, hair style, and taste in clothes, but I would to love to be him, or be able to do what he did.
Everyone at some time in their life dreams of being someone else. I don’t really want to be that person, I just would like to spend a day as that person.
Doing our best, concentrating on ourselves and the social group we are involved in is the best use of our time. Einstein had a rule that he would not waste time on what he was going to wear each day. His solution was to have multiple outfits that we identical so that he just had to grab and go. No thought wasted on something so trivial.
I forgot to tell you who I have dreamed about being. I have always wanted to spend a day as Bill Gates or Steve Jobs during the early days of their companies. Just to see what they really were like and what they really said to each other.
Maybe not being them…But the fly on the wall.
Hmmm…..so do you want to be Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, or just the fly on the wall? Make up your mind already….
Okay, I want their money and to be the fly.
“Have you ever worked to emulate the style and mannerisms of a certain celebrity?” You make it sound like you are in my shoes. Wow, thanks I really needed this article. No OTHER BOOK TEACHES YOU this! Or maybe they say it indirectly. Its probably an unconscious thing that we would like to be someone else becuase, you may think it might be a better life situation, and more people would like you. By the way if you don’t mind me asking what does this blog focus on?
Cheers,
Alex
Feel to peruse through the archives (link at the top of the page). Generally speaking, I write about personal development, stress management, freelance writing, entrepreneurship, and a few other things. Thanks for stopping by!
Hey I’ve been thinking about this article for a while becuase the desire to be someone else is pretty strong, or was. The question I had was is improving yourself moving yourself more to that person. Say if that person has good looks, you love yourself to move yourself up to that? Hope that makes sense.
I would rather be anyone than myself, even someone who has nothing, or someone struggling with drugs. I don’t necessarily want to be someone better, just anyone who isn’t me. Do you know what its like to hate who you are so much that you wish everyday for it to be your last.
We all have our off days when we might feel that way, but we also have to look at the positives in our lives and nurture those. If you still feel the way that you do, I would recommend that you go find some help. Many towns have counselling services that are free or low-cost.
Mary, don’t feel that way. Everyone is important, you should take the time to stop call a crisis hotline, they will help you. There are times that everyone feels down on themselves, but there are always people you can turn to that will help you get through your feelings.
Please take the time to call for help.