“Be yourself.” It’s advice we’ve all heard—but rarely unpack. What does it actually mean to be yourself? And how do you practice it in a world that constantly pulls you away from your core? In this video, I explore what it means to be authentic—not as a curated personality or a brand, but as an evolving human navigating creativity, relationships, and growth. Drawing from two decades as a multidisciplinary artist and mindfulness practitioner, I break down what it means to align with your core values, stay present, and return to yourself through simple, sustainable practices.

This episode of Mind Over Matcha covers:

00:00 - Introduction to this video's intention and subject matter.

01:01 - The real-life benefits of being yourself (and the costs of not).

03:10 - What does it mean to "Be Yourself"? My working theory of the five key pillars of authenticity: self-awareness, self-acceptance, flow, a growth path, and courage.

07:08 - Introduction to six types of practices to connect with your true self.

08:17 - Practice 1: Self reflection to determine your core values and build self-awareness.

09:35 - Practice 3: Mindfulness practices such as walking meditation to help you be present with yourself and your thoughts.

11:10 - Practice 3: Cultivate supportive relationships to get a fuller view of self and others.

12:13 - Practice 4: Have healthy boundaries in order to preserve your self concept and personal wellbeing. 4 types of boundaries to consider

14:04 - Practice 5: Flow state activities to help you tune out the noise and practice just being without judgement. Five categories of flow activities to spark ideas for your own practice.

16:00 - Practice 6: Better socializing habits to help you not get caught up in judgement and anxiety.

17:44 - Five ways to help others feel safe enough to be themselves.

19:38 - Writing Assignment: A journaling prompt to help you visualize your “perfect day” and clarify your current values. This provides you with your growth path.

20:58 - A Baoism to give you a new perspective on being yourself related to individuality, self-comparison, and compassion.

21:49 - Some closing thoughts on more things to look into related to the topic.

📘 Preorder My Book "Baoisms: Everyday Epiphanies of a Mindful Artist"👍 If this resonated with you, please like the video and share it with someone who might benefit from it.

Further Listening & Viewing - These awesome talks and episodes inspired the themes explored in this video:* Hidden Brain Podcast – “Wellness 2.0: Be Yourself”* The Art of Being Yourself | Caroline McHugh @TEDx  * Who Are You, Really? The Puzzle of Personality | Brian Little @TED* The Science of Knowing Yourself (And Why It Matters) |  Dr. Thomas Smithyman#MindOverMatcha #BeYourself #Authenticity