That's Cool

Perhaps the one modern mantra I hate more than any other is, "Be yourself."  There's a positive sentiment hidden in there, the encouragement to never compromise yourself for fleeting rewards.  But more often than not it is advice given with two subtextual meanings:

1.  I have no idea how to help you, but using this store-bought platitude will make me sound wise while hopefully giving you something to think about.  Maybe.
2.  I genuinely believe this store-bought platitude is the answer to all your problems even though I don't actually know what it entails.  Sure does sound nice, though.

Think about it for a second.  When's the last time someone parroting that ridiculous cliche actually gave you really useful practical advice?  That's what I thought.  If it's such great advice, then one must wonder why it hasn't worked that often.

The truth of the matter is that the whole, "Be yourself," chant is just feel-good rhetoric and that, as I said before in a previous post, the better route is to be your best self.  That's going to be a battle, but the payoff comes in higher quality rewards for your determination.  Just don't expect instant gratification.

This comes down to the essence of what makes someone cool.  It's not only in action, but intent.  Cool people act differently and individualistically not as an end unto itself but because they know what they want and they go for it.  If some arbitrary rule is standing in their way and breaking it doesn't hurt people, they will disregard that rule without a second thought.

Ironically, the people I've seen reciting, "Be yourself," like it's the answer to life, the universe, and everything are actually homogenous, generic, utterly forgettable rubes.  They all describe themselves the same way, talk and act the same, listen to the exact same music, wear the same outfits, have the same hobbies... it's uncanny!  There is little to nothing distinguishing them as individuals.

To be cool, you have to know what you want and be unafraid to get out there and get it.  People admire that.  It creates a personal magnetism because people want to be around a person who can get something done, who gets results.  Imagine for a moment how much better your magic would be if you possessed that kind of magnetism.