Psychology says the moment you stop trying to become your "best self" and start accepting your actual self is the moment most people describe as the turning point - not because they gave up but because they finally stopped performing for an audience that was never going to approve of them anyway - Silicon Canals

"The moment people describe often arrives quietly, after exhaustion, when they stop trying to improve and optimize, leading to a significant internal shift."

"Carl Rogers identified conditions of worth as implicit rules absorbed from the environment, dictating what one must be to deserve love and belonging."

"Conditional positive regard, valuing a person only when they meet certain conditions, is growth-stifling rather than growth-enhancing, suppressing authentic experiences."

A moment of quiet realization often leads individuals to stop striving for an ideal self, resulting in a significant internal shift. This change does not equate to laziness or lowered standards, but rather a cessation of performance. Carl Rogers' concept of conditions of worth explains how societal expectations can stifle personal growth and authenticity. When individuals internalize these conditions, they may struggle with psychological difficulties, as their self-worth becomes contingent on meeting external criteria rather than embracing their true selves.

Read at Silicon Canals