Have you ever looked at something and thought, “that’s impossible!”? If so, you know what it’s like to experience an illusion.
Last week, Rob and I visited the Paradox Museum in Miami and were fascinated by the exhibits and false illusions. This got me thinking about life in general…do we sometimes put up a façade to create an illusion of perfection for others to see?
Maintaining a False Appearance Takes Energy
I know firsthand how much energy it takes to maintain an image that isn’t real. (Can I get a hand raise, please?)
I remember how exhausting it was to keep up with my false appearance to the outside world. For example, I would hide my gray area drinking. I had others believe that I was just a wine lover and “occasionally” drank. Not a bid deal, right?
In my marriage, I also put a lot of energy into presenting a perfect image for friends and family members. It took great effort to ensure everyone saw us as this ideal couple with no problems whatsoever.
Maintaining a False Appearance Takes Energy
I know firsthand how much energy it takes to maintain an image that isn’t real. (Can I get a hand raise, please?)
I remember how exhausting it was to keep up with my false appearance to the outside world. For example, I would hide my gray area drinking. I had others believe that I was just a wine lover and “occasionally” drank. Not a bid deal, right?
In my marriage, I also put a lot of energy into presenting a perfect image for friends and family members. It took great effort to ensure everyone saw us as this ideal couple with no problems whatsoever.
The Reality of Living Without Illusions
While living out these falsehoods, there were moments when I felt completely exhausted from expending so much energy on maintaining them. Eventually, I realized that if I wanted genuine happiness in life, I needed to be honest about who I truly was – flaws and all! When I stopped trying to present myself as something other than who I am, amazing things started happening in my life. My relationships became more meaningful because they were based on genuine honesty instead of some constructed version of reality. Plus, the rest of my life just seemed easier since I wasn’t constantly trying to defend or explain away my actions.
No matter how hard we may try, it’s always impossible to present perfect versions of ourselves online or in person…and there’s no need! We all have flaws and imperfections that make us unique individuals; striving for perfection should never come at the expense of our authenticity or self-worth.
Conclusion
We can have meaningful relationships without succumbing to too much power over what other people think about us (which isn’t even within our control!). Having a balance between perceptions versus reality is key when it comes to living life authentically with purpose—a paradox indeed!
