Have you ever felt the need to tone yourself down just to fit in? To hide parts of who you are so you don’t stand out too much? It’s a strange feeling, and I’ve found myself in that spot more times than I can count.
In a world that encourages you to "be yourself," it’s ironic how sometimes it feels safer to just blend in. Like a chameleon, you change your colors, adapt to the environment. You adjust to the people around you... speaking their language, thinking on their level. It feels like the only way to avoid standing out too much, especially in a society where “smart shaming” is a thing.
It’s disheartening. Having a more complex view on things can make you a target for rude remarks or quick dismissals or false judgments. So, you shrink down, simplify, and camouflage.
The thing is, you learn to adjust. Not because you want to, but because it’s easier. You adapt to their way of thinking, pick your words carefully, and lower your expectations of how conversations might go. It’s frustrating because you know there’s more in you that you could share, but you hold back.
At the same time, I’ve realized that blending in comes with a price. Sure, it keeps things easier, but it can also feel like a gradual erasure of who you really are. You start to wonder: how much of yourself should you hide for the sake of fitting in? And is it really worth it?
Yet, despite this, I believe there’s a way to stay true to ourselves without alienating others. It’s a tricky balance---learning when to stand out and when to blend in. But maybe it starts with small steps. A word here, a thought there, shared with the right people who understand. Because in the end, there’s always a space for authenticity, even in a world that pushes us to conform.
