I’ve actually written a similar post years ago, but this time I’d like to focus on my eternal fight between .
Whenever I want to publish something, I’m thorn between rejecting the idea and actually committing to hit send. I feel uncomfortable with posting ‘selfies’ but since in the last year there was not much socialising occasions to remind others that you exist, you+your desk has been our main scenery.
On one hand, I don’t want to add to the noise by repeating what’s already been said a million times elsewhere, or posting what’s up in my life. I’m fighting my vanity side vs adding fresh perspective. I also may believe some things are true or harmless to me today but I may change my mind in the future, but by that time, already will have forgotten about what I had said. Can my today’s opinions hurt me in the future? Is it better to keep low profile?
On the other hand, I also want to stay in touch with my close ones when I don’t have time for 1-on-1. I want to build my community and belong using the main means of communication for today – the internet. Who doesn’t? My partner says that people can find value in everything, whether you post your bikini photos or add a comment on the recent tech inventions.
I should stop overthink things and just be more open about what I think and do, as it may inspire or give value to someone.
Emotional GPS
Then, there is another issue, of being enough humble but brave to the extend of pseudo-arrogance. If you’re trying to do against the current, you’ll find people who will try to intimidate you. If you want to lead (in sense of inspiring others), you should almost have no shame if you really believe in what you do, the value you create and deep down, you feel that it’s coming from your self-awareness.
I love Opera’s idea that everyone has a calling but you can’t fulfil it unless you have a level of self-awareness. She calls it an emotional GPS system which guides you to what you should do to excel. Often, we kill this feeling inside, trying to fit in, to conform. But if you think about it, most of the great things in your life happened when you showed your true self, you risked it and showed your vulnerability. You had no shame. People connect with others when they feel that there is a human in front of them, not an emotionless robot.
