YOU
In a world filled with the constant challenges of life and the daily hustle of life, just to make ends meet can make you lose sight of what is most dear to you — yourself. Losing sight of yourself and conforming to society’s standards can happen, especially when you don’t take a break from the things happening around you. You need to take a break and reflect on yourself by remembering who you are, what you stand for, what defines you, and what your drive is.
Y.O.U is an abbreviation that helps us reflect deeply on ourselves, our self-worth, dreams, passion, personal growth, and purpose. It is not just a pronoun that is used daily but rather a reminder of our true selves and the attributes that make us. Y.O.U stands for Yourself, Openness, and Understanding.
You must be wondering how these three simple words will help one deepen one’s reflection on oneself and remember one’s core values. Well, instead of “wondering,” why don’t we just dive straight into it?
Y — Yourself
As the first letter in the word “you,” I’ll say it is the most important of the three as it is about embracing and acknowledging who you are, your core values, beliefs, dreams, and passion. I don’t think the other two will matter without first recognizing and embracing who you are. Simon Sinek once said, “Putting yourself first is not selfish. Thinking that it’s selfish is an obstacle to your happiness,” and I agree.
Because if you don’t put yourself first, those dreams, passion, purpose, belief, and values won’t exist. You will just be an empty shell. If people of the past weren’t selfish and put themselves first, we wouldn’t have people like Albert Einstein, Dr. Faraday, Odetola, and the like.
So, this letter, “Y,” is telling us to be selfish by identifying our external self and our inner self. It tells you to identify and understand what drives you, makes you unique, and gives your life meaning.
To do this, you need to reflect and explore your inner word. Yes, you need to make ends meet and run this unseeable race that everyone is running, but then you can still create time from all of the above and find answers to the following questions: What do I stand for? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What makes me happy? What are my deepest desires? What are my fears?
Finding the answers to the above questions will help you identify yourself and motivate and push you to be more selfish with your person. When you know and accept yourself, you can make choices that align with your true self and live life to the fullest. It will also serve as the first to non-conformity to society’s standard but instead, conformity to your own standard.
O — Openness
After identifying yourself, you need to be open to the world around you by being receptive to new ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This also means leaving your comfort zone to learn and explore new things.
Openness means being willing to learn from the various challenges that life dishes out daily. It means learning to accept advice from people. It means being willing to listen to other people even when their view is different from yours. That is accepting people for who they are in terms of their train of thought and learning from them directly or indirectly. It also helps us let go of our rigid thinking and accept the flow of life.
This letter applies to your relationship with the people and world around you and also to your relationship with yourself. It is about self-improvement and recognizing that you are a work in progress. It is about learning that personal growth is a gradual process that comes from a willingness to confront your fears and weaknesses — a process that we need to trust and persist in. Being open is all about Learning, Unlearning, and relearning.
U — Understanding
The last letter in the word “you” is the finishing touch. Understanding is having a deep awareness of who you are and what you need to fight for. It is about knowing your breaking point and respecting them. It is about identifying your emotional needs and ensuring they are met by whatever means possible, whether it is by cutting off toxic people, setting boundaries, seeking help or creating time for self-care.
This letter means being mindful of your impact on others, maintaining healthy relationships, and improving your mental state. Understanding also extends to the world around you. It is about being affectionate to others, understanding and acknowledging their experiences and feelings, and building a sense of community and connection. By so doing, you not only understand yourself but also understand others.
Why is Y.O.U powerful?
Y.O.U. is powerful because it represents the three most powerful tools for living a meaningful and fulfilled life, building healthy relationships and personal growth. It enables you to connect to your inner self, be open to changes and growth and, above all, understand yourself and the world you live in.
By adopting the meaning of Y.O.U, you shape yourself up to live with purpose and intentionality. You become powerful and capable of facing challenges, more confident in your abilities, and more sympathetic in your relationships. Y.O.U isn’t just about existing but about growing and becoming the best version of yourself.
In a world that pushes us to conform, Y.O.U. It pushes you to pause, reflect, and control your life. It is a call to live life on your terms, pursue what truly makes you happy, and define success yourself. The definition of Y.O.U. is the celebration of your uniqueness, potential, and power to shape your destiny.
So, next time you think of the word “you,” remember that it is more than a pronoun. It is a reminder of the journey you are on — a journey of self-discovery, growth, and understanding.
