I'm 62 and I just realized I've never once entered a room and thought about what I wanted from it. I only ever think about what the room wants from me. And I've been calling that social skills for decades. - Silicon Canals

"Gerald's experience illustrates how years of curating oneself for others can lead to a profound disconnection from personal preferences, leaving individuals unable to articulate their own desires."

"The conventional wisdom equates emotional intelligence with being a good listener and team player, but this can mask a deeper issue of losing one's own identity in social contexts."

"Psychologists emphasize that assertiveness and self-esteem are intertwined; without the ability to stand up for one's own needs, what appears as social grace may actually be a loss of self."

Prioritizing others' comfort can lead to a loss of self-awareness and personal identity. Many people, like Gerald, may find themselves unable to articulate their own preferences after years of focusing on social dynamics. Emotional intelligence often emphasizes understanding and accommodating others, but this can become a survival strategy that erases individual desires. The absence of self-advocacy and assertiveness can hinder emotional health and effective communication, resulting in a disconnect from personal needs and wants.

Read at Silicon Canals