Authenticity

“I told my mom I was fine when she called and now I feel guilty for lying but also relieved I didn't have to explain anything.”

“I smiled and said congratulations when she told me about the promotion and I genuinely don't know if I meant it.”

“I keep telling people I love working from home but the truth is I've only left the apartment twice this week.”

“I nodded along in the meeting like I understood what they were talking about and I still don't know what half those acronyms mean.”

“I said I didn't want kids for so long that I've stopped questioning whether I actually believe it.”

“I cried in the bathroom at work and then walked back out and answered a question about Q3 deliverables.”

“My therapist asked me how I was doing and I gave her the polished version because I didn't want to get into the real version today.”

“I said something edgy in the group chat to seem funny and no one responded and I've been staring at it for twenty minutes.”

“My grandmother asked if I'm happy and I said yes and she looked at me like she didn't believe me and I think she was right.”

“I like the idea of this friendship more than the actual hanging out, and I'm not sure what that says about either of us.”

“I got really quiet at dinner when they started talking about traveling and I pretended I was just tired.”

“My coworker got the assignment I wanted and my manager said I was needed more on another project and I smiled like I agreed.”

“I told her the presentation was great and I meant it but now I keep wondering if I was too enthusiastic and came across as fake.”

“I told the story about my childhood like it was funny and everyone laughed and then I went quiet for the rest of the night.”

“I think I've been performing being okay for so long that I don't always know the difference anymore.”

“I turned down the offer because the timing was wrong and I've been wondering ever since if I just told myself that.”

“I haven't cried in a long time and I'm not sure if I'm managing better or just further from myself than I used to be.”

“I've started saying I'm an introvert because it's easier than explaining that I'm just afraid of not being liked.”

“I drove to the party, sat outside for five minutes, and went home, and I didn't tell anyone.”

“I agreed with something I didn't believe because the group was very certain and I didn't have the energy to be the one person who pushed back.”

“I've started leaving parties early and telling myself it's because I'm mature about my sleep and not because I can't handle small talk anymore.”