This guest post was written by Diggy, author of Upgrade Reality.

No two people are identical, not even identical twins. Everyone is a one-of-a-kind. And do you know what a one-of-a-kind is worth? Priceless! Yes, this means YOU are priceless.

From the day we are born and open our eyes, we start to grow into the person we will ultimately become as a result of the environment we are exposed to and the experiences we endure. And although our parents and mentors have a large impact on our upbringing, we rarely walk the exact path they had in mind for us.

There is only one success: To be able to spend your life in your own way.

– Christopher Morely

Don’t Be Someone Else’s Puppet

Contrary to the way many people behave, we do not have to do what other people tell us to do all of the time. We are constantly under siege from family, friends, strangers and the media to act, behave and live in certain ways. But despite all of these external influences, we have the ultimate choice to make our own decisions.

Be True To Yourself

“Be true to yourself or you aren’t true to anyone.”

This is a powerful quote my mother told me a long time ago. And whenever I make a decision I try to stick to it. It is one thing to lie to other people, but it is much worse to lie to yourself. Many people get into the habit of ignoring their true desires and instead they just do what they believe is expected of them by others. I promise you, this path will only lead to failure on all fronts.

Find and Follow Your Own Values

If you want to please somebody, be honest. Do what they ask of you only when their values and expectations align with yours, and not because you merely want to impress them. Do not study to be a lawyer because your parents have been telling you to since you were ten years old. Instead, become a pilot, or an engineer, or whatever, because it’s your passion. In other words, figure out what makes you tick and pursue it!

Leave the Comfort of Your Nest

Never forget the definition of insanity: Doing the same thing every day of every month of every year, and expecting different results. If you want to truly live, and not merely exist, you have to leave the comfort of your nest. You have to forge your own path through the uncharted waters around you – for it is these uncharted waters that will eventually lead you to the shores of your goals.

Make Choices and Take Risks

The best way to forge your own path and live a life of fulfillment is to listen to your heart and overcome your natural fears. You’ll never get to the place you want to be if you’re afraid to make the necessary choices to get there.

Do not be afraid of what someone will think of you or say to you if you express your passion and tell them what you really want to do with your life. Do not be afraid to make a choice that seems a little risky – everything in life, even getting out of bed in the morning, involves risk. If you intend to live, you have to accept risks.

Conclusion

It’s your life to live and your life to enjoy, no one else’s. Nobody on this planet walks the exact same path as you, and this is precisely what makes life so remarkable and fun. Although others may be able to show you parts of the path, you must take the initiative to walk it on your own. Because as Morpheus said in The Matrix, “Neo, sooner or later you’re going to realize, just as I did, that there’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.”

So stay true to yourself, follow your instincts, and listen to your heart every step of the way.

Diggy is the author of UpgradeReality.com, a blog that explores the beauty and simplicity of self-improvement. If you enjoyed this post then consider subscribing to his RSS feed.