Being Your Authentic Self - Is it possible at all times?

I just watched Department Q on Netflix. As I watched the trailer, I was intrigued by where it was filmed. It was hauntingly nostalgic, so I clicked the unmute button to hear, and I listened to the lovely Scottish accent, and I recognised Edinburgh. One of my criteria for selecting shows to watch is whether they have a British accent (and yes, Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, not England) because it satisfies that part of my soul that aches to be back in London, my home away from home - which is still India, by the way.

Anyway, before I digress too much, back to the show - it consists of nine episodes, each roughly one hour long. And in my humble opinion, it is worth watching - if nothing else, the actor Matthew Goode is not only good-looking but also a great actor. Without revealing too much of the plot, essentially, one person is convinced that another person has wronged them and then punishes them. But the truth is far from what they think.

Has it ever happened that you had all the good intentions in the world, but the other party has a reality where you are out to get to them, and they act from that place? If you have never encountered such an experience, then the first time this happens, you are probably going about your merry way until what you do or share is taken out of context and used to hurt you. And then you learn an essential lesson that forces you to grow up - that not everybody in the world is trustworthy. That, in turn, means you have to think carefully when you meet a nice person and be cautious. It is easy to form a reality that from now on, I will not trust anybody, but that is my reaction. Reacting to a situation only backfires.

What does one have to do? Assess every situation on a case-by-case basis - people like me tend to prefer efficiency by forming regular patterns of behaviour. But that is part of growing up for me. I would love to live in a world where I can be my true self and expect others to do the same. One of my favourite quotes is,’ People never grow up; they just learn how to behave in public.’ For the longest time, I was reserved, and at one point, I realised that for me, as a good people leader, it is okay to let people in. So, I went to the other extreme, and now it’s time for me to walk the middle way. It is easy to either shut other people out completely or open up entirely because then you do not have to watch what you say to somebody, etc.

Of course, one can argue that it is unfortunate that there are people who will betray your trust. Sure, but that does not take away from the fact that these people exist and lamenting about that fact is not going to do anything. When poop falls from the sky, we better take a clear umbrella and watch the lovely designs - a quote from one of my favourite professors. Now, the only caveat is that if these changes conflict with your value system, then you remove yourself from the situation where poop does not fall from the sky - but if it fits within your value system, then it is wise to grow up and realise that life is inviting to a whole new world!

Are you ready to walk the middle path?