Life lessons from Dr. Seuss

To be able to trust yourself, you've got to stop betraying yourself for the needs and opinions of others. 

Kids come into this world knowing this, instinctively. Kids are not interested in what the world wants or thinks. They will wear stripes and dots and rainbow colours - all on the same day - because that is how they feel, with no regard for how their parents or classmates will perceive them. Kids will tell you with complete certainty that they DO NOT LIKE BROCCOLI and they don't care how nutritious it is. 

The problem is some parents cannot handle their child's authenticity. It makes them worried, or insignificant, or helpless. To soothe their own anxiety and insecurity, parents may try to control their child's behaviour or convince them to think differently. Because children want to preserve a good relationship with their parents, they will conform, even at the expense of losing their sense of self. 

Therefore as adults, to regain your lost self, and become more fully you - you must be willing to betray others in order to be true to you. This may feel wrong, and bad, and inappropriate. It may threaten relationships. But it is essential to your successful functioning in life and future relationships.