as someone who has followed you for years, the way you interact with your platforms is the exact reason you're one of the handful of creators i follow. i know there is a lot of intention and honesty behind everything you put out, and yet i like that i am not consuming your whole lifestyle but just the parts that you choose to share. i've grown to realize that yours is the kind of content that best informs and inspires me without infringing on my own sense of individuality. i also really enjoy the degree of separation i, as a fan, have from you. this was very beautiful to read as always and has me thinking a lot about my own values and how they shape my life.
Okay, wow, amazingly written and truly the perfect read alongside my morning tea. As someone who has always been obsessed with curating myself, this made me think about a lot of things... I realize how trying to find my authentic self has only led to a Russian doll situation: every time I think I've got my finger on who I am, I find another self.
The reason we are obsessed with authenticity in this age is because, I think, we are obsessed with curation. And the thing about curation is that it is performative - you know, the matching feeds and the specific wardrobe that perfectly reflects your personality. Reading how you've accepted your presence is a performance struck a chord with me, and I realized how helpful it would be to my psyche to do the same.
Excited to read more from you! I'm also definitely going to think of my top 3 values. Great Journaling prompt!
This piece reminds of a topic we discussed in class about ‘the constitution of the self’. From what i gathered, it was about the assumption of having a ‘true self within’ and surrounding that there’s social relations, norms/values, lived experiences, but some philosophers doubt if there’s a core like that. What stuck to me the most was the quote that got presented
‘Being oneself in another’. Especially in this pursuit of authenticity or looking authentic through consumption, maybe just being with others and knowing your values is the most authentic!
i really love this piece!! and as someone who has followed you for a while and really admire your writing, i do sense a certain reticence (or intention of curation) in your writing. i actually wrote a similar piece recently exploring my own relationship with public displays of vulnerability (being “authentic” if u will). i think because i only started writing only privately at first, i find it difficult to write without writing about personal experiences but lately i’ve sensed the need to perform creeping in as more people start to read my posts. but this essay made me rethink authenticity as a concept.
Authenticity, as a concept, could be universal but, as a practice (I do think of it as a practice!), it’s highly subjective - in that it is just being true to oneself.
wow. so resonating with this - i'm a college student at duke, and young women here have been dealing with the burden of trying to be "effortless perfection" for generations. i've noticed that now, we're less concerned about being perfectly put together and more concerned with being perfectly messy. so paradoxical but it's manifesting in: "oh i pulled an all nighter so i'm struggling like everyone, but i styled my sweats still" or "oh man i got so screwed over by that guy but i'm not gonna talk about the deep vulnerabilities that awakened in me." it's so planned, but it's trying to use the currency of authenticity while still only showing the best parts of us.
I have always understood the term "authentic" as being true to yourself. Living your life defined by what you think is good (isn't harmful to others) and not living to please others. That way, you become more 'accountable' to the things you do and say - as opposed to living as someone who has 'repressed' themselves to fit a certain box and is full of guilt, regret and shame.
I am fairly new on this journey myself. And I have scratched my head many times thinking why it's so hard for people to be authentic.... to be themselves like how they would like to be. And from reading your post, it's clear that you have something extremely precious between you two - psychological safety to fully explore yourselves without judgement.
This is a beautiful piece. I’m thinking through my values and one that comes to mind immediately is honesty and I’m wondering how that differs from authenticity. Honesty, to me, is a word that encompasses a personal commitment to telling the truth in good faith. I think a person who is honest both with themselves and the people around them is truly authentic because at the heart of authenticity is an intimate relationship with oneself. I think being honest with yourself first and foremost is the first step in living in a way in which a healthy authenticity permeates every aspect of life- even media consumption and production.
Thanks so much for this. I admire so much about the way you handle yourself online and the kind of content you create. And bc you asked:
as someone who has followed you for years, the way you interact with your platforms is the exact reason you're one of the handful of creators i follow. i know there is a lot of intention and honesty behind everything you put out, and yet i like that i am not consuming your whole lifestyle but just the parts that you choose to share. i've grown to realize that yours is the kind of content that best informs and inspires me without infringing on my own sense of individuality. i also really enjoy the degree of separation i, as a fan, have from you. this was very beautiful to read as always and has me thinking a lot about my own values and how they shape my life.
wow, Prakruthi! (i love your name)
this is so kind and makes me feel so SEEN!!! i hope i can do the same for you <3
As another writer, this was such insightful feedback. It shows me what readers value and how they like their content.
Thank you, Prakruthi!
Can’t go wrong with establishing your personal values.
In a workshop I did in 2019, we were asked to identify our values. One exercise stuck with me:
The coach asked, “What bothers you? Like what really gets under your skin?”
The idea was that what irritates you often points to something you deeply value.
For example, I can't stand seeing someone litter. Like what the f is that? It really gets to me.
After reflecting on it, I realized it’s because I value mother earth and being good to her.
From there, other core values naturally surfaced.
It’s a simple yet powerful way to start identifying personal values.
Okay, wow, amazingly written and truly the perfect read alongside my morning tea. As someone who has always been obsessed with curating myself, this made me think about a lot of things... I realize how trying to find my authentic self has only led to a Russian doll situation: every time I think I've got my finger on who I am, I find another self.
The reason we are obsessed with authenticity in this age is because, I think, we are obsessed with curation. And the thing about curation is that it is performative - you know, the matching feeds and the specific wardrobe that perfectly reflects your personality. Reading how you've accepted your presence is a performance struck a chord with me, and I realized how helpful it would be to my psyche to do the same.
Excited to read more from you! I'm also definitely going to think of my top 3 values. Great Journaling prompt!
This piece reminds of a topic we discussed in class about ‘the constitution of the self’. From what i gathered, it was about the assumption of having a ‘true self within’ and surrounding that there’s social relations, norms/values, lived experiences, but some philosophers doubt if there’s a core like that. What stuck to me the most was the quote that got presented
‘Being oneself in another’. Especially in this pursuit of authenticity or looking authentic through consumption, maybe just being with others and knowing your values is the most authentic!
i really love this piece!! and as someone who has followed you for a while and really admire your writing, i do sense a certain reticence (or intention of curation) in your writing. i actually wrote a similar piece recently exploring my own relationship with public displays of vulnerability (being “authentic” if u will). i think because i only started writing only privately at first, i find it difficult to write without writing about personal experiences but lately i’ve sensed the need to perform creeping in as more people start to read my posts. but this essay made me rethink authenticity as a concept.
Authenticity, as a concept, could be universal but, as a practice (I do think of it as a practice!), it’s highly subjective - in that it is just being true to oneself.
Lovely piece, Maalvika:)
my top three:
Integrity
Love
Wisdom
My Top Three Values:
Love
Safety
Community
A Perfect Piece
wow. so resonating with this - i'm a college student at duke, and young women here have been dealing with the burden of trying to be "effortless perfection" for generations. i've noticed that now, we're less concerned about being perfectly put together and more concerned with being perfectly messy. so paradoxical but it's manifesting in: "oh i pulled an all nighter so i'm struggling like everyone, but i styled my sweats still" or "oh man i got so screwed over by that guy but i'm not gonna talk about the deep vulnerabilities that awakened in me." it's so planned, but it's trying to use the currency of authenticity while still only showing the best parts of us.
I have always understood the term "authentic" as being true to yourself. Living your life defined by what you think is good (isn't harmful to others) and not living to please others. That way, you become more 'accountable' to the things you do and say - as opposed to living as someone who has 'repressed' themselves to fit a certain box and is full of guilt, regret and shame.
I am fairly new on this journey myself. And I have scratched my head many times thinking why it's so hard for people to be authentic.... to be themselves like how they would like to be. And from reading your post, it's clear that you have something extremely precious between you two - psychological safety to fully explore yourselves without judgement.
This is a beautiful piece. I’m thinking through my values and one that comes to mind immediately is honesty and I’m wondering how that differs from authenticity. Honesty, to me, is a word that encompasses a personal commitment to telling the truth in good faith. I think a person who is honest both with themselves and the people around them is truly authentic because at the heart of authenticity is an intimate relationship with oneself. I think being honest with yourself first and foremost is the first step in living in a way in which a healthy authenticity permeates every aspect of life- even media consumption and production.
Thanks so much for this. I admire so much about the way you handle yourself online and the kind of content you create. And bc you asked:
1. Honesty
2. Community
3. Wisdom