We feel unnecessary pressure when we try to mimic those around us who have natural abilities that we don’t have. We also feel pressure when we don’t take risks and reveal what it is we do have to say and contribute. Either way, you aren’t operating out of a solid sense of who you are and why you’re here—your identity.

We all live based on a story we believe about ourselves and our lives. Few of us take the time to understand that story, grieve it, and take steps to change its course. Doing that work within the context of honor and honesty can lay the groundwork for a life lived to the fullest.

The good news is that you can work directly on your mental health and be better off for it. Research says you will be happier.