坚持做自己很难？生活是你的选择！

 　　When it comes to being yourself, there can be a lot of pressure from the outside world as it tries to influence who you are. Living in a society that is constantly developing, it’s important for you to always be yourself from the inside out.

　　在你想要坚持做自己的时候，外部世界中可能会有很多压力，试图对你造成影响。生活在这样一个持续发展的社会中，由内而外发自内心的真正做自己，这一点很重要。

　　When you deeply know yourself and the boundaries that you have set, you are more likely to experience a fulfilling and rewarding life. Without knowing yourself and establishing those boundaries, you can easily be pushed around and end up on a dirt path.

　　当你深刻理解了自己和你设定的那些界限，你就更有可能经历有意义很值得的生活。如果不了解自己，不去设定这些界限，你就很容易任人摆布，最后的结局可能是在一条泥泞的小路上徘徊。

　　You have the option of taking the path that is broad or taking the path that is narrow. You can either conform to what life wants you to be, or have the courage to remain true to yourself throughout the years.

　　选择宽阔的大路还是狭窄的小道，这是你的选择。是遵循生活想要你变成的样子，还是鼓起勇气坚持多年真我，这也是你自己的选择。

　　It’s definitely a challenge to have a strong sense of self when we are constantly getting distracted and being influenced by the media and society’s way of life. But if you want to reach your fullest potential in life, it all starts with being yourself.

　　想要拥有强烈的自我意识绝对是个挑战，因为我们总会被媒体和社会生活方式影响和分心。但如果你想要让自己的生活发挥最大的潜能，首先要做的就是自己。

　　Why should you always be yourself? Because you will:

　　为什么你要一直做自己？因为你会：

　　1. Live in alignment¹ with your values and beliefs.

　　过符合你的价值观和信念的生活

　　Being yourself is all about knowing what you believe in and the values that you live by. When you are not yourself, you will take on the values and beliefs of others.

　　做自己，是关于你相信什么，是关于你生活中所遵循的价值。但你不再是你自己，你就只会接受别人的价值观和信念。

　　2. Establish your own identity.

　　建立你的身份

　　No matter what happens in your life, you will always know who you are. There will be times where you may feel lost or distracted, but if you have your own identity you’ll be able to get back on the right path.

　　不管生活中发生什么，你总是会知道自己是谁。也许会有觉得迷失和分心的时候，但如果你有自己的身份认知，你就能回到正确的道路上。

　　3. Build courage.

　　鼓起勇气

　　It takes a great amount of courage when you decide to take the path that goes against the crowd. The reason why the majority of people take the broad path is because it’s easy. It’s easy to just follow the crowd.

　　当你决定与大众背道而驰，走向你选择的道路是，你需要很大的勇气，这也算为什么大部分人会选择宽阔大道的原因，因为很容易，只要从众即可。

　　4. Establish boundaries.

　　设定边界

　　When you are always yourself, you know what your limits are and the boundaries that you have set for yourself. If you are always yourself, you are more likely to be aware when people start taking advantage of you.

　　当你一直做自己 ，你就会自己到自己的极限和你为自己设定的边界了。如果你一直做自己，当有人开始利用你时你很有可能会很警觉发现。

　　5. Find focus and direction.

　　找到重心和方向

　　When you stay true to who you are, you are more likely to know the goals you want to accomplish and how to go about accomplishing them. You are able to stay focused and know which direction to take in order for you to accomplish your goals.

　　当你保持真我，你更有可能知道自己想要完成的目标和如何完成他们。你会保持专注，也知道为了实现目标，你需要朝着什么方向努力。

　　No matter what you experience in life, the only person that will always remain constant is you.

　　不管你在生活中经历了什么，一直保持不变的那个人就是你自己。

　　9招调整心情过生活

　　Change Tactics

　　改变策略

　　If things aren’t working, it’s time to change the game. If you are being too serious, lighten up. If you are holding on too tightly, it may be time to try a lighter² touch.

　　如果此路不通，或许就该换个方向。总是一本正经？试着明朗一点吧！凡事太过计较？何不放宽心胸呢？

　　Laugh It Up

　　一笑而过

　　Sometimes you just have to laugh at life. And laugh at yourself. Laughing at the situation can be the first step in reversing the negative tone of your day.

　　有时确实只能一笑而过，自我解嘲、笑看困境，这样或许反倒能扫走霉运。

　　Don’t Give Up

　　永不放弃

　　As the saying goes, it’s not about how many times you get knocked down… it’s about how many times you get back up. Don’t let life’s happenings and petty frustrations⁴ stop you.

　　常言道：“重要的不是你被打倒了多少次，而是你能屡败屡战。”所以，别因生活中的小挫折而轻言放弃。

　　Do Something Else

　　做点其他事情

　　If you aren’t able to get one thing done, try doing something else. A change of task can get you back on track and clear your head. Circle back to the frustrating⁵ task later and you might just see the solution from a different vantage point.

　　如果这件事无法搞定，那就先做别的事情吧。换个任务还能清醒清醒头脑。以后再处理难搞的任务，或许就能柳暗花明。

　　Get Some Help

　　寻求帮忙

　　Don’t let your pride prevent you from asking for help. There is a time and a place to call for backup. Reach out to someone you trust to help you past that obstacle.

　　不要自尊心太强，羞于启齿寻求帮助。总归会有得到帮助的时候或地方，不妨请信得过的人帮你渡过难关。

　　Don’t Get Mad, Get Motivated

　　别抓狂，要积极行动

　　Complaining doesn’t get anything done. Neither does blind rage. Getting mad doesn’t help. Instead, channel that energy into action to get things done.

　　抱怨一无是处，盲目抓狂也不是办法。与其发火动怒，不如把精力花在积极行动上。

　　Focus on One Thing

　　一次只做一件事

　　Often when things are going awry⁶ it is because we are multi-tasking or dividing our attention. Instead, focus on the one thing that is most important to get done.

　　有时事情变得乱七八糟，只是因为我们三心二意、同时处理多个任务罢了。因此，最好一次只专心做好一件事。

　　We all have days when we want to just to give up until tomorrow. The key is to keep going. Turn it around. Sometimes, adversity can be a great motivator. Let it drive you from frustration³ to success when you are having a bad day.

　　谁都遇到过倒霉透顶、灰心丧气的时候。这时，最重要的就是不放弃不抛弃，努力扭转逆境。何况，有时逆境也能催生成功。下次倒霉时，试试以上方法，化困境为成功吧！

 

1 alignment   

n.队列；结盟，联合

参考例句：

• The church should have no political alignment.教会不应与政治结盟。
• Britain formed a close alignment with Egypt in the last century.英国在上个世纪与埃及结成了紧密的联盟。

2 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

3 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

4 frustrations   

挫折( frustration的名词复数 )； 失败； 挫败； 失意

参考例句：

• The temptation would grow to take out our frustrations on Saigon. 由于我们遭到挫折而要同西贡算帐的引诱力会增加。
• Aspirations will be raised, but so will frustrations. 人们会产生种种憧憬，但是种种挫折也会随之而来。

5 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 awry   

adj.扭曲的，错的

参考例句：

• She was in a fury over a plan that had gone awry. 计划出了问题，她很愤怒。
• Something has gone awry in our plans.我们的计划出差错了。