Attempt to be interesting: Risk being authentic

I'm in the phase of this self experiment where I'm finding bottlenecks.

The first of many: Balancing interest with authenticity. 

I catch myself filling gaps with rubbish to be more relatable—exaggerating moments instead of ironing out the wrinkles so it sticks. Adopting tones and mannerisms that aren’t mine, trying to emulate others who inspire me.

Let's be clear here. Emulating isn't a problem. But you need to be able to weave it into a style that fits who you are or else it's unsustainable. Like a filter that masks the blemishes on your skin. It's not real and people will sniff that out. 

We want real. We want to see the battle scars and loose skin. The blunders and errors draw us in because we're all living versions of each other's stories.

Everyone has an interesting story. Learning how to tell it is the tricky part. Those who never learn this skill risk authenticity at the altar of validation. Comments, likes and shares may do wonders for the ego but they're short dopamine hits built on shaky truths.

It's a slippery slope if you're not careful. 

Tell your story as many times as you need to until you find a way to tell it so it resonates.

It may take longer.

But it'll be real and it'll be yours.