Be authentically you

DON'T LET THEM DEFINE YOU DEFINE YOURSELF

From the moment you step into the spotlight of societal notice, people will begin to put a sticker on you, they will try to label you in a way that suits their ego and narratives, they will make efforts to box you in, and tell you who you are supposed to be. They will use their own measuring sticks, their own expectations, and their own fears to shape your identity. But you don't have to let them. You don't have to accept their definitions, limitations, or narratives. You have the power to tell the world who you are.

When you let others define you, you give away your voice. You allow their perceptions, often incomplete, biased, or outright wrong, to dictate your worth. They might see your struggles and call you weak, not realizing the strength it takes to keep going. They might see your quiet moments and call you shy, not understanding the depth of your thoughts. They might see your dreams and call them unrealistic, not recognizing the fire that fuels your ambition. But their words are not your truth. Only you know who you truly are.

Defining yourself is an act of courage. It is about standing tall in your authenticity and telling the world who you really are. It is about refusing to shrink yourself to fit into someone else's expectations. It is about owning your story, triumphs, failures, quirks, passions, and letting it shine unapologetically. When you tell people who you are, you take back the power they tried to take from you. You remind them that you are not a blank canvas for their projections, that you are a masterpiece in your own right.

You don't have to force yourself, or your identity on people, you just have to live your truth for everyone to see. When you tell people who you are, you inspire them to do the same. You become a beacon of authenticity in a world that often values conformity. Speak your truth with confidence, even if your voice shakes. Show up as yourself, even if it makes others uncomfortable. You are not here to live up to anyone else's expectations. You are here to be you, and that is more than enough.

To a better you, Kamikun John.