Since childhood, I’ve noticed that authentic individuals and brands often hesitate to speak up or show their true selves.
They fear that if they share the truth about themselves or their brand, people will judge them as scams or too salesy. In some way, this fear is valid.
Because, whenever something feels good, perfect or truthful, the world tends to view it with suspicion, as a potential scam or exploitation. Truth, perfection and goodness can threaten people who live comfortably in their own imperfections.
To resist that discomfort, their minds label it as fake or scam.
The above resistance within authentic people, makes them silent or hesitant. Sometimes they mistake this silence for being ethical.
This is where the pretentious step in. They take advantage of the space and flourish, being unaware of their own mediocrity.
In fact, they don’t even know what they don’t know, the so-called Dunning-Kruger effect.
Due to this effect, the confidence of pretentious creates seamless confidence in their communication, making people believe they’re the real deal, while authentic voices marked by self-doubt and humility, struggle to be heard.
Have you encountered authentic people staying silent while the pretentious take center stage?
— SCD Balaji
