“Be Who You Are”—From “Principles: Life” by Ray Dalio

Ray Dalio’s book Principles is divided into three parts. At the end of the first section, Life, Dalio wrote:

If you’ve learned anything from this book I hope it’s that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and everyone has an important role to play in life.

Nature made everything and everyone for a purpose. The courage that’s needed the most isn’t the kind that drives you to prevail over others, but the kind that allows you to be true to your truest self, no matter what other people want you to be.

~ Ray Dalio

Each person
has their own
strengths and weaknesses;
their own role
to play.

Nature made
everyone and everything
with a purpose;
set along
life’s
way.

And the courage
you’re called to express
is not to prevail while
others are oppressed.

Rather—
be true to you
and to
your truest self.
Following
where it
leads.

In tuned to the rhyme
of the greater you —
regardless
of what others
believe or
want you
to be.

This reminds me of the Emerson quote:

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wherever you are, whoever you are reading this: Be true to you.

Once you get to know ‘know thyself’, it’s as the Delphi said, “You’ll understand the secrets of gods and men.”

You’ll know the secret places of the Universe,
as you are the Universe experiencing itself.