" You’re going to pay a price for every bloody thing you do and everything you don’t do. You don’t get to choose to not pay a price. You get to choose which poison you’re going to take. " -Jordan B. Peterson
We all wear masks. Whether it’s 25/7 or 30 minutes a day, we are all guilty of it at a point or another. When you feed yourself off external validation, it’s an extremely terrifying prospect to be seen for who you really are under the 56 layers and shades of shittyness that you hide behind.
In my view, there is nothing more worth the risk in life than putting yourself out there and show the real you. After all, if you don’t bet on yourself, who’s gonna do it for ya? If you make the choice – whether consciously or not – that giving away your authenticity is worth the payback that you get from being approved by others, then it’s on you. But by doing so, it’s yourself that you are hurting the most in the end.
I don’t fall for people who lube up their every move – or sugar coat their every word – I fall for people who have the courage to remain faithful to their morals against all odds. You shouldn’t be on your best behavior solely when your very reputation depends on it. It’s all too easy to be a sweetheart to the world – and an asshole behind closed doors. But the truth is that who you are when nobody is watching speaks volume on what’s in your heart.
You have nothing to gain out of being kind to the cashier that’s taking your order at Mickey Dees. And that’s precisely why you should be kind. Because nowadays, we’re constantly evaluating the costs and benefits of our actions. We’re only kind so long as we have something to gain out of it. Rare are the people who choose to be selfless without expecting the slightest reciprocity. In other words, we ruin the purpose of engaging in kindness altogether because of our selfishness.
When people’s reputation – money – status – fame – power is on the line – that’s where they’ll try the hardest to present their best selves to whomever could save their fate, because heck, they got too much to lose to risk showing their real shitty ass selves. Paradoxically, it’s often in the moments where people try their hardest to pretend they are someone they’re not, that their mask slowly starts to slip. Be careful shawty. Karma bites you when you least expect it.