By Lauren Geall / Stylist
"A new report has revealed that 65% of UK adults find it hard to express themselves fully – with almost half saying they don't feel comfortable being their true selves. But why is this? And what can we do about it? Stylist finds out.
Knowing yourself and what you like is one thing, but being able to express that – both to the people closest to you and the wider world – can be tricky. There are a number of reasons why that might be the case – not only is there the fear of judgement and rejection to consider, but you've also got to find a method of self-expression which works for you.
All in all, then, it's no surprise that so many people find it so hard to show their true selves. According to a new report from Scottish Brewer Innis & Gunn, almost two-thirds (65%) of UK adults feel unable to express themselves fully – with over a third (38%) saying they struggle to be themselves around their partners and three-quarters (76%) saying the same about their colleagues.
While your ability to express yourself might not be something you think about that often, it can have a big impact on your overall wellbeing. It might not feel like that big a deal to hide parts of yourself from your colleagues, mates or even your partner, but over time, it can certainly take its toll – leaving you feeling stressed, trapped and disconnected.
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As consultant psychologist Honey Langcaster-James explain:
"In society, there can be a lot of pressure that gets put on us and we put on ourselves, so we think we have to be a certain way to be our 'best'. But actually, when we're being truly authentic that is our best self, because we're able to liberate ourselves from that pressure."
Image: Getty / Stylist