Society sets us up to be everything but ourselves, but I want to

The words “Society sets us up to be everything but ourselves, but I want to take a moment and say to people, love yourself. Find your purpose. You are unique, and that makes you great. I pursued my dreams. You can do it, too,” were spoken by Karen Civil, a woman who rose from humble beginnings to become a creator, entrepreneur, and visionary. These words, radiant with encouragement, are more than mere motivation—they are a declaration of freedom. For in them lies a rebellion against conformity, a call to awaken the soul buried beneath expectation. In a world that demands masks and molds, she summons us to return to the self, to rediscover the divine spark of individuality that society too often teaches us to forget.

When Karen Civil speaks of society setting us up to be “everything but ourselves,” she echoes the lament of countless souls across the ages who have struggled under the weight of imitation. From childhood, the world teaches us who we should be—what to wear, how to speak, what to value, and whom to please. We are measured not by our hearts but by comparison, as if uniqueness were a flaw to be corrected. Yet Civil’s voice rises like a clarion: “Love yourself. Find your purpose.” She reminds us that greatness begins not in imitation, but in authenticity. To know oneself truly is to hold the key to both freedom and fulfillment.

Consider the life of Socrates, who lived and died by this same truth. The people of Athens condemned him for being different—too questioning, too bold, too true. Yet Socrates refused to bow to the expectations of others. “Know thyself,” he taught, for only through self-knowledge could a person live rightly. His devotion to authenticity led him to drink the hemlock rather than betray his soul. Karen Civil’s call is gentler but no less heroic: she urges us to stand firm in a world that profits from our doubt, to know that individuality is power, and that the courage to be oneself is the purest act of resistance.

Her message shines especially bright in this age of illusions. In a time when people curate lives for the gaze of strangers and measure worth by attention, Civil’s words are both a balm and a warning. Self-love is not vanity; it is survival. To “love yourself” is to recognize your own sacredness, to cease chasing approval from the crowd. To “find your purpose” is to turn inward and ask, “What was I born to give?”—for purpose is not found in comparison, but in creation. Those who live by this truth do not fade; they illuminate the path for others.

Karen Civil herself is proof of this. She did not wait for permission or validation; she carved her own road, guided by the belief that her uniqueness was her strength. Through faith, persistence, and self-knowledge, she transformed her dreams into living reality. Her story is a living testament that purpose follows authenticity—that when we act from our truest selves, the universe bends gently to meet us. She speaks as one who has walked through the fire of doubt and emerged radiant, whispering to others still trapped in the flames: “You can do it, too.”

And so, her words become not only a reflection but a summons. They urge us to strip away the borrowed layers of identity and return to our essence. To listen to that quiet voice within that says, “This is who I am.” For there is no dream too distant, no purpose too grand, for the soul that walks in truth. When we honor our uniqueness, we give others permission to do the same, and in doing so, we help the world heal from its sickness of conformity.

Let this be your lesson, O seeker of meaning: to love yourself is not selfishness—it is alignment with truth. Dare to know who you are. Dare to trust your path, even when it leads away from the crowd. Pursue your dreams not because the world praises them, but because they are yours. For you, too, are a singular creation, a note in the grand symphony of existence.

Therefore, remember Karen Civil’s timeless wisdom: “You are unique, and that makes you great.” The path to purpose begins with self-acceptance. The strength to succeed begins with self-belief. And the light that will guide you forward lies already within you. Tend it. Protect it. Let it shine—and by your example, awaken others to the glory of being themselves.