Why It ’ s More Important to Be Authentic Than to Be Impressive

“The most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves is to remain ignorant by not having the courage to look at ourselves honestly and gently.” – Pema Chödrön All my life I’ve chased after success, as I was encouraged to do from a very young age. When I was six, my father got me my first proper study desk as a gift for getting into a ‘good’ school. The type of desk that towered over a little six-year-old—complete with bookshelves and an in-built fluorescent light. In the middle of the shelf frame stuck a white sticky label inscribed with my father’s own handwriting in two languages. It read: “Work hard for better progress.” Little did I know those words would set the tone for me and my work ethic for the next twenty years — until I finally began to question them. Hard work became my ‘safe space’ whenever I felt insecure. When I struggled to make friends at a new school, felt rejected, or felt like I didn’t belong, I would put my head down and drown out my emotions out by working hard. It became my coping strategy. My younger self didn’t yet have the emotional resources to deal with moving around, changing schools, and facing social rejection. When it became too painful, it was much easier to stay in my head than to feel vulnerable with my heart. So, whenever I struggled to fit in at school, I just worked harder with the misguided belief that if I did well, then I would be celebrated. If I became impressive, then people woul...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Habits Happiness Industrial and Workplace Perfectionism Personal Publishers Success & Achievement Tiny Buddha Authentic Self Insecurity workaholism Source Type: blogs