We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves

Francois de La Rochefoucauld, a French author and moralist, once famously said, "We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves." This quote speaks to the idea that we often present a false version of ourselves to the world, to fit in or to protect ourselves, and in doing so, we lose touch with our true selves.

In today's society, the pressure to conform and fit in is stronger than ever. With the rise of social media, we are constantly bombarded with images of perfection and success, leading many to feel inadequate and insecure about their own lives. As a result, people often put on a facade, pretending to be someone they are not in order to gain acceptance and approval from others.

This constant need for validation from others can lead to a disconnect between who we truly are and who we present ourselves to be. We become so accustomed to wearing masks and hiding our true selves that we start to believe the lies we tell others. We lose touch with our authentic selves, and in the process, we become strangers to ourselves.

The danger of living a life of disguise is that it can lead to feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction. We may have all the external trappings of success – a high-paying job, a beautiful home, a perfect family – but deep down, we feel unfulfilled and unhappy. This is because we are not living in alignment with our true values and desires. We are living a lie, and the longer we keep up the charade, the harder it becomes to break free from it.