I realized recently that I've spent years becoming whoever the room needed me to be - and now I honestly can't tell the difference between what I actually enjoy and what I've just been pretending to for so long it stuck - Silicon Canals

"Every time you bend yourself to fit someone else's expectations, you lose a piece of your original shape. After years of bending, you forget what that original shape even looked like."

"The Buddhist concept of anatta, or non-self, teaches that our identity is more fluid than we think. However, there's a difference between understanding this and losing touch with your authentic preferences."

"When asked what I do for fun, I found myself listing activities based on who was asking, revealing a disconnect between my true interests and the persona I project."

Adapting to fit others' expectations can create a disconnect from one's true identity. This phenomenon, termed the chameleon syndrome, involves changing behavior to please others, which can result in losing sight of one's original self. The Buddhist concept of anatta highlights the fluidity of identity, but losing touch with authentic desires can lead to confusion about personal enjoyment and interests. The struggle to identify genuine preferences often arises when asked simple questions about personal enjoyment or hobbies.

Read at Silicon Canals