The flipside of authenticity

Should we obsess over authentic experiences

We all love the concept of true love, authentic experiences, intelligence that thrives effortlessly, and ideas that are so brilliant that they scale the moment they emerge. There is something inherently charming about authenticity without intervention. We are wired to give more weight to brilliance than to diligence.

That said, most of us do our best to look, behave, and think differently from our natural selves most of the time. Pretending to be someone you are not can be excruciatingly exhausting. More so, people can tell when someone is putting on a show. It is impossible to wear a mask for 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. Even if you manage, it is unlikely that your colleagues will trust you.

That said, authenticity comes at a cost.