Context and Contrast: The Authenticity Trap
Published on:
July 26, 2022
Do you act the same way around your boss as you do around your grandmother? At the bar and at the office? With a stranger and with your best friend?
Of course not.
That’s why people struggle so hard to achieve true ‘authenticity’ - because the authentic you changes from situation to situation.
Just like the gray boxes in the optical illusion above, who you are and how you’re seen depends on the context you’re in.
Instead of driving yourself crazy trying to be the same person to everyone, embrace the fact that you can and should treat different people differently.
And be aware of the role context and contrast plays. Spend as much energy showing up in the right places and being around the right people as you do saying the right things.
Brian Miller is a former magician turned author, speaker, and consultant on human connection. He works with organizations to create connected cultures where everyone feels heard, understood, and valued.
