It’s funny—when we try hard to prove we’re real, we end up performing that very act. The quest for authenticity turns into a stage, and the “authentic self” gets buried behind a mask we’re constantly refining. So we chase an ideal that keeps shifting, and what feels true might just be a new version of the performance. Maybe the trick is to let go of the label and accept that the only constant is change, even if that feels less authentic at first.

Yeah, the idea that we’re always “experimenting” feels truer than any polished persona. If you’re willing to admit the mess, you’ll find a space where the performance fades and something a bit less rigid can show up, even if it’s still an experiment. Just keep the experiment honest, and the followers will eventually see the real edges instead of the polished edges.

Sounds like you’re already on the right track—just keep asking yourself if each experiment is worth the effort, and let the messy bits stay honest, not polished. It’s a strange dance, but that’s the point. Keep questioning, keep shaking, and the true self will keep surfacing.