To Sell Out or Not? - Paid to Be Real

I’ve spent my time in unconventional ways like “long-term travel” that cause other people to disapprove. They disapprove of my lifestyle probably because it forces them to question their own values. I believe that the path I have taken is just one way to stay true to myself against all odds.

When there’s a community that encourages competition, it could be hard to stay true to yourself. But I believe that competition is not really a bad thing as people’s livelihood depends on it. However, there are people who will try to be someone else, write about things that they don’t really care about in hopes of winning the competition. These labels were invented such as whales, dolphins, minnows that can define anyone now. Oh he’s a whale he must be a winner, oh he’s a minnow he must be a loser. The problem is that you identify with these labels, and in the end, you are living up to it. You need to get out of these categories and just be yourself.

The more we accept ourselves the more we would be able to accept others.

Artists, musicians, writers, or just anyone will encounter this question - to sell out or not? You want to be successful, you want to earn more money because why not? You need to get by, and you need to have the things you deserve in life. But sometimes you sacrifice your spirit in exchange for money and some temporary recognition. That you don’t stick to who you really are because you felt that it’s not going to help you get through life.

The society defines success as having an important job title, and people judge others based on their outward appearances. Despite what my friends and families told me about my travel, I've gone through it and stayed true to myself. I will not look back to the life I've already left behind. Where it was more about selling out, impressing the others and showing what you’ve got. I think I’m done with all that. I prefer to be totally in control now.

I believe we should stop living our lives based on a template.

Here on Steemit, it’s like we’re given a template, people just want to copy other people’s successes. It is nice to feel inspired, to have some people to look up to. But it’s better to be rewarded by just being yourself, or should I say - get paid to be real.

You should stop caring about what people think, and be living up to these labels. It’s all about how much you control your time and how much you own your own mind.

It can be hard to stay true to yourself for fear of being judged. But I guess, here we are free to speak our mind without hurting others. I see people are more understanding here, so it’s the world where you can really be yourself.

To make a certain impression is part of the game because people want to be viewed in a certain way. Like someone “interesting”, or someone “who matters”. If you live up to other people’s expectations, like writing in a certain way for the sake of popularity, it’s like giving up a little part of your soul.

Sometimes you have to be able to accept harsh criticisms. Because nowadays, authenticity is not really popular, “fitting in” is. But there are a lot of people who are also successful and admired because they went against the flow. They stayed being real and have followed their own trail no matter. These people can be the real inspiration.

Live the way you want to live and write the way you want to write. Stop sacrificing your integrity. You should try to live every day following your heart as much as possible. Freedom and authenticity should be your highest ideal.