Staying true to yourself (tsuranuku)
Overview
Tsuranuku (staying true to yourself) means consistently keeping to your own beliefs, style, and approach without giving in to pressure or criticism from the people around you. On social media, it's also described as "having your own core" or "not wavering."
Staying true to yourself isn't easy. On social media, you see other people's reactions: the number of likes, followers coming and going, critical replies. To keep your own style without being swayed by this outside feedback, you need strong self-awareness and willpower.
What staying true to yourself means in a question box
What does it mean for the person answering in a question box to stay true to themselves? You don't turn to extreme answers to create buzz. You don't bend your opinion even when you're criticized. You don't change your answering style even when you lose followers. You don't jump on trendy answer formats without thinking.
Staying true to yourself can cost you in the short term. Answers that go for laughs or answers that go along with the majority may get more reactions in the moment. In the long run, though, a consistent style also bears on how much people trust the person answering. Being predictable, as in "this person always answers like this," also affects your followers' sense of security and trust.
Staying true to yourself vs. being stubborn
Staying true to yourself and being stubborn are different. Staying true to yourself means protecting the values at your core. Being stubborn means refusing to take in new information or points of view. People who stay true to themselves listen to others' opinions and then make their own judgment. Stubborn people refuse to even listen to others' opinions.
One way to be the person answering in a question box is to "stay true to yourself flexibly." You stay true to your answering style and beliefs while staying open to learning from the sender's point of view. "My opinion hasn't changed, but I can understand yours too." This attitude is part of what lets a question box work as a place for conversation.