This honestly hits right where I am right now. The reminder that finding your voice is about courage rather than just confidence, and that 'reading the room' is just a survival mechanism, is exactly what I needed to hear. It definitely gives me a lot to reflect on.
As a high schooler, it honestly feels like we’re trapped in that 'borrowed language' phase every single day. Between trying to fit in with friends, keeping up appearances, and checking the right boxes for the future, it's so easy to become an expert at playing a role rather than figuring out who you actually are. That part about having the courage to let your truth be 'inconvenient or misunderstood' really challenged me. It’s hard to do right now, but it's exactly the reminder I needed.
Love this Landon, I can relate to many things here. It took a while to find my own voice and to let go of the things people have said around me, expectations, projections. Today I know what I stand for, and I stand for it very strongly. Many of my ideals, especially when it comes to marginalized groups, are not negotiable. As you said, not everyone will get it, sometimes it requires courage, but knowing what you believe in is worth the potential resistance.
Yes! Its such a beautiful thing to come home to yourself like that. And it’s a bit funny to me that the truest version of ourselves that shines the most brightly is the version that was brave enough to create something entirely new and needed. Like your startup!! The world needs more bravery and more shining and yet we all still gravitate toward the status quo. Thank you for reading:)
Most people don't realize the capacity to hear that voice can be developed deliberately rather than accumulated accidentally over decades. That changes the equation entirely: newsletter.awarelife.co.il
Really lovely piece of writing which really resonated with me. Im starting to realise one of the hardest parts of writing publicly is accepting that not everyone will understand what you’re trying to say, particularly when you’re talking about topics that are complex and emotionally charged.
I’m slowly learning that clarity and honesty are probably more important than universal approval.
Yes!! I so agree. In writing and in our relationships. It’s so entrained from so early on though that I feel like it takes a lot of relearning to overcome
When you say that listening to your intuition has been hard-earned for you, it genuinely shows in the authentic voice that you relentlessly put out into the world. I have always appreciated it, and it has been one of the key sources of the mature perspectives I gain on things we often tend to overlook.
I think the performative nature that seems increasingly prevalent today, the one you talk about when you say that we have learned to read the room and offer practiced answers in order to be widely accepted rather than truly looking within, stems a TON from the cancel culture that has become far too prevalent over time. The pressure around making statements that are widely accepted somehow pushes people away from digging into what they genuinely believe and toward blending in with the crowd just to avoid feeling like an outcast.
It gets amplified by social media, where the stage is constantly present and there is hardly ever any time for someone to take off their mask and simply relax for a bit.
One of the major takeaways I got from your piece is the balance between listening to oneself, reading the amazing authors you mentioned, and seeking out the work of people who have greater clarity on certain topics before trying to speak one's mind about them. I strongly feel that expressing our views should be backed by an understanding of the nuances surrounding the topic at hand.
And for that, one has to engage with people who hold different perspectives... some right, some wrong. The wisdom lies in picking and choosing for oneself, and allowing that process to form the foundation on which our views are built.
Thank you so much for the letter, Doc :) Your pieces always make me think about things, and that is exactly what I keep looking for!
Thank you so much for reading this piece so deeply, Ankesh. This comment means the world to me 🤍 first off, this is a huge compliment. Thank you. I try my hardest to stay with my intuition every day and it’s not always easy. I think it is easier to fall in line with the crowd in some ways. But also harder too on your heart over time. Perhaps one of the bigger contributors to anxiety and depression.
Oh cancel culture. I really do hope we get away from it one of these days. It’s hard to be human when there are impossible standards to live up to. No to cancel culture, yes to accountability. That’s my take.
I think in terms of differing perspective that you’re onto something there. It requires a more in depth knowledge of both sides of an argument to truly know that the side you’ve chosen to stand on is the best one for you. Too often I think we don’t know the other side of the coin like we should.
Thank you again for reading and your thoughtful comment🤍
This honestly hits right where I am right now. The reminder that finding your voice is about courage rather than just confidence, and that 'reading the room' is just a survival mechanism, is exactly what I needed to hear. It definitely gives me a lot to reflect on.
As a high schooler, it honestly feels like we’re trapped in that 'borrowed language' phase every single day. Between trying to fit in with friends, keeping up appearances, and checking the right boxes for the future, it's so easy to become an expert at playing a role rather than figuring out who you actually are. That part about having the courage to let your truth be 'inconvenient or misunderstood' really challenged me. It’s hard to do right now, but it's exactly the reminder I needed.
Thanks Dr. Eggleston!
Love this reflection. I’m so glad it landed for you. Thank you for reading and leaving such a thoughtful comment. Means the world to me 🤍
Love this Landon, I can relate to many things here. It took a while to find my own voice and to let go of the things people have said around me, expectations, projections. Today I know what I stand for, and I stand for it very strongly. Many of my ideals, especially when it comes to marginalized groups, are not negotiable. As you said, not everyone will get it, sometimes it requires courage, but knowing what you believe in is worth the potential resistance.
(I am repeating myself, but great photos!!)
Yes! Its such a beautiful thing to come home to yourself like that. And it’s a bit funny to me that the truest version of ourselves that shines the most brightly is the version that was brave enough to create something entirely new and needed. Like your startup!! The world needs more bravery and more shining and yet we all still gravitate toward the status quo. Thank you for reading:)
Most people don't realize the capacity to hear that voice can be developed deliberately rather than accumulated accidentally over decades. That changes the equation entirely: newsletter.awarelife.co.il
Yes! Exactly. Thanks for reading:) I will check out your page!
Really lovely piece of writing which really resonated with me. Im starting to realise one of the hardest parts of writing publicly is accepting that not everyone will understand what you’re trying to say, particularly when you’re talking about topics that are complex and emotionally charged.
I’m slowly learning that clarity and honesty are probably more important than universal approval.
Yes!! I so agree. In writing and in our relationships. It’s so entrained from so early on though that I feel like it takes a lot of relearning to overcome
Great read !
🫶🏻 thanks for reading
What a beautiful post I love it 🙏🏼♥️
Thank you 🤗🌈
👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽❤️❤️
Thank you🫶🏻
When you say that listening to your intuition has been hard-earned for you, it genuinely shows in the authentic voice that you relentlessly put out into the world. I have always appreciated it, and it has been one of the key sources of the mature perspectives I gain on things we often tend to overlook.
I think the performative nature that seems increasingly prevalent today, the one you talk about when you say that we have learned to read the room and offer practiced answers in order to be widely accepted rather than truly looking within, stems a TON from the cancel culture that has become far too prevalent over time. The pressure around making statements that are widely accepted somehow pushes people away from digging into what they genuinely believe and toward blending in with the crowd just to avoid feeling like an outcast.
It gets amplified by social media, where the stage is constantly present and there is hardly ever any time for someone to take off their mask and simply relax for a bit.
One of the major takeaways I got from your piece is the balance between listening to oneself, reading the amazing authors you mentioned, and seeking out the work of people who have greater clarity on certain topics before trying to speak one's mind about them. I strongly feel that expressing our views should be backed by an understanding of the nuances surrounding the topic at hand.
And for that, one has to engage with people who hold different perspectives... some right, some wrong. The wisdom lies in picking and choosing for oneself, and allowing that process to form the foundation on which our views are built.
Thank you so much for the letter, Doc :) Your pieces always make me think about things, and that is exactly what I keep looking for!
Thank you so much for reading this piece so deeply, Ankesh. This comment means the world to me 🤍 first off, this is a huge compliment. Thank you. I try my hardest to stay with my intuition every day and it’s not always easy. I think it is easier to fall in line with the crowd in some ways. But also harder too on your heart over time. Perhaps one of the bigger contributors to anxiety and depression.
Oh cancel culture. I really do hope we get away from it one of these days. It’s hard to be human when there are impossible standards to live up to. No to cancel culture, yes to accountability. That’s my take.
I think in terms of differing perspective that you’re onto something there. It requires a more in depth knowledge of both sides of an argument to truly know that the side you’ve chosen to stand on is the best one for you. Too often I think we don’t know the other side of the coin like we should.
Thank you again for reading and your thoughtful comment🤍