Why is no one telling the truth?
Social media, societal expectations, and the constant pressure to keep up appearances are pulling us further away from our true selves. The reality is, we’re rarely honest about how we really feel.
Success doesn’t follow a set timeline, and sometimes the path to finding your true purpose takes longer than expected. At 30, I stepped away from the corporate world and leapt into entrepreneurship. I’ve been running my aesthetic business for six years now and I’m finally ready to share my life and business lessons.
Over the past six and a half years as an aesthetician, I’ve had so many one-on-one conversations with women from all walks of life, ages, and races.
One thing remains consistent: we all crave connection and the feeling of being truly seen.
Yet, despite this, we struggle to truly show up. A few people might be bold enough to do so, but for the most part, the majority hold back.
I’ve noticed that the same dilemmas and issues repeatedly surface during my clients’ appointments, whether it’s about money, relationships, weight, friends, children, or family. You name it.
Another pattern is clear: even those in relationships or surrounded by friends and family often feel isolated.
Social media, societal expectations, and the constant pressure to keep up appearances are pulling us further away from our true selves. The reality is, we’re rarely honest about how we really feel.
Why? Perhaps it’s the pressure to appear as though we’ve got it all together or the fact that a sense of true community feels like a thing of the past. It could stem from trust issues, cultural expectations, or even religious norms. The reasons are countless, but the result is the same: a world where authenticity is quietly slipping away.
It’s not just about social media, but it plays a big role. Social media has turned life into a performance.
We see the curated highlights of other people’s lives and feel compelled to keep up. We share only the polished parts and hide our struggles. It’s no longer just a social feed; it has become a platform for wearing masks.
Moreover, the loss of genuine, close-knit communities is a major factor. Without spaces where we can open up without fear of judgment, we guard ourselves.
Who wants to feel vulnerable in the wrong hands? And with trust being so hard to come by, we end up hiding parts of ourselves. Add to this the cultural pressures and expectations dictating how we should act or what we should believe, and it’s easy to see how “faking it” has become the norm.
But this habit of masking comes at a cost. We end up feeling isolated and disconnected, even though so many of us yearn for deep, genuine connections. So, where do we go from here? Perhaps it’s time to normalise being real again. To create safe spaces where we can show up as our true selves. For me, that’s what my studio has become, a haven for authenticity.
It’s time to make authenticity more than just a buzzword. Because if we lose touch with who we truly are, we’ll continue to lose the connections that make life meaningful.
In 2020, Britons’ sense of belonging to their communities had declined over the previous five years. Official figures showed that people were engaging less with their neighbours while interacting more on social media. Across the UK, positive neighbourly behaviours, like exchanging favours or stopping for a chat, dropped by three to four percentage points between 2011–12 and 2017–18, according to the Office for National Statistics.
So, what’s the solution?
Be the first to open up, making it easier for others to do the same. Let’s take responsibility for creating safe spaces. How do we do this?
Remember: If you’re going through something, chances are the other person is too. Sometimes, you have to be the one to take the first step.
Know yourself well: Social media makes authenticity harder, but we can change how we engage with it. It’s not about abandoning it entirely, but being mindful of how we use it. Share a balanced version of life, resist the urge to present a “perfect” image, and take breaks when it starts to feel performative. Following accounts that promote honesty and realism can also help reshape our online environments.
Top 5 Recommendations
Manifest - 7-step guide to living your best life - Roxie Nafousi - a re-read for me! Great for new chapters and speaking life into new things…
Yopo Mandrake Hotel - the perfect place for a cosy date night - the Choriqueso empanadas are divine a must try!!’
The new season of dating black all stars is out this week (and I’ll be in it) so tune in via Bet, channel 5 & you tube
Song of the week - Summer Walker Heart if a woman
Quote of the week - how you love yourself is how you teach others to love you - Rupi Kaur
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