Kanisa George

WHO WE are and who we want to become dominate our thoughts, influence our behaviour and can even inform who we allow to be part of our lives. In a nutshell, it informs our inherent need to belong.

As soon as we are able to understand the self-concept narrative, we quickly assume our place at the starting line in a haste to make sense of it all. But understanding yourself is a lifelong journey that takes grit and a massive dose of insightful thinking.

The self-discovery process is imperative to our overall development, for as we develop we are forced to examine our identity up close and learn to manage the many ways to express ourselves.

Self-expression encapsulates the ability to use your thoughts and what appeals to you to express your feelings. To many, self-expression is merely articulating one's personality or asserting one's traits. But at the root of it, self-expression allows us to understand ourselves and process our emotions.

Research by Bellah, Madsen, Sullivan, Swidler & Tipton, 1985, strongly advocates the importance of self-expression through individualism. Because we are programmed from birth to express ourselves to meet our survival and social needs, developing apt self-expression skills could add beauty and colour to our experience, underscored by human connection.

In their study titled "Express Yourself": Culture and the Effect of Self-Expression on Choice, they highlighted that one important aspect of individualism is called "expressive individualism," which allows individuals to express their inner thoughts and feelings in order to realise their individuality.

When we are in tune with who we are, navigating our relationships with others becomes easier regardless of their complexities and varying shades. This perspective supports the findings of numerous studies that suggest self-expression plays a significant role in developing our capacity to relate to others and engage in deep relationships. The closer we are to managing our personalities and feeling confident in our ability to express ourselves, we tap into a greater self-awareness that improves our mood, cognition and behaviour.

Because self-expression is far more than how we communicate what we think and feel, the inability to exercise this function properly can negatively impact our mental health and well-being.

Adult, teen and child counsellor Janine Hodge wrote that when we have the freedom and confidence to say what we truly believe and feel, and when our actions align with our beliefs and values, we are more likely to experience good mental health, connection and well-being. The link between well-being and self-expression can only be forged if authentic self-expression is at play.

It is believed that authentic self-expression enhances our well-being when compared to adapted and conditioned self-expression. At the same time, adopted and conditioned self-expression creates an environment that undermines our independence, rendering us prisoners to the validation train. When self-expression falls shor