We live in an age where breaking news breaks every five minutes. Floods in Himachal. Fires across US & Europe. The brewing trade war. A stock market plunge. Another political headline that sounds like yesterday’s joke.
And in between all this chaos, what do most of us do?
We scroll. We shrug. And then we go back to our meeting notes as if the world isn’t collapsing outside our window.
On the surface, this looks like professionalism. But look closer, and you’ll see what it really is: emotional suppression dressed in a suit.
This is what
Authentic living means: refusing to live like a robot while the world burns.
Why Suppressing Emotions Hurts Your Confidence and Resilience
Suppressing emotions is a survival tactic. It feels neat: no panic, no tears, no messy conversations. It lets us carry on with our jobs and avoid collapsing under the weight of the world’s problems.
But here’s the cost:
- Suppression doesn’t erase feelings. It buries them alive.
- Buried emotions leak out later as stress, irritability, burnout, or health problems.
- When you mute fear, you mute meaning, action, and life itself.
Psychologists have been telling us this for decades. Research on emotional suppression shows that pushing away feelings increases physical stress responses. Carl Jung warned, “What you resist, persists.” And Terror Management Theory explains how, when faced with global threats, people often double down on denial just to escape their own fear of vulnerability.
In short: suppression feels safe, but it’s dangerous.
Why Authentic Living Matters in These Chaotic Times
We all know these are not “usual times.” Pretending they are doesn’t make us stronger. It makes us numb.
And authenticity? It doesn’t mean you suddenly become an activist or solve climate change in your lunch break. It starts much smaller:
- Admitting that what’s happening around you affects you.
- Allowing yourself to name the fear, anger, or sadness instead of hiding it.
- Letting that honesty crack the robot shell you’ve been wearing.
That simple step — acceptance — is where resilience begins.
Facing Fear Instead of the flight response
When you finally acknowledge what you’ve been suppressing — whether it’s fear of job loss, a collapsing business, or just the overwhelm of living in unstable times — something uncomfortable happens. The fear comes and sits right in front of you.
Our instinct? Run. Distract ourselves. Scroll again. Pretend it doesn’t exist.
But here’s the shift: instead of running, ask it:
“Fear, what can I do here?”
The first few times, the answers might be:
- Nothing.
- Scroll again.
- I’m helpless.
And that’s okay. It might take once, twice, ten times. But eventually your brain wakes up. You stop being chased by fear and you start choosing how to respond.
A Real Story: From Anger to Purpose
I’ve seen this with clients. One came to me furious after the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. For weeks, he had drowned that anger under piles of work, pretending it didn’t touch him. But when we finally worked on acknowledging it, everything shifted.
Suddenly, his business goals weren’t just about money. Doubling turnover became about building something that could also support his employees and his community. That shift doubled his drive.
The same man who once struggled to imagine a 10% growth had already achieved it within a month. Now he was chasing much more — and doing it with purpose.
That’s what happens when you stop numbing. Fear turns into fuel. Suppression becomes action.
If you wanna check how I help my clients, visit my career coaching page here.
Why This Matters Beyond One Person
At the end of the day, it’s still on us — humans — to face climate crises, workplace meltdowns, and collapsing systems. Robots can’t care. AI won’t heal. Only we can.
But if all we do is keep scrolling, here’s what’s guaranteed:
- More disasters to scroll through.
- Fewer years left to do the scrolling.
Living authentically doesn’t make the chaos disappear. But it makes you more grounded, more resilient, and more able to contribute something that matters — in your work, in your family, in your community.
🌱 What Happens When You Start Living Authentically
- Lower Stress and Better Health
- Studies show that people who express their true emotions (rather than suppress them) have lower cortisol, stronger immunity, and better heart health. (You can download my free resource on managing stress here)
- Simply put: honesty with yourself reduces the hidden cost of constant inner tension.
- Clarity and Energy Return
- When you stop spending energy repressing feelings, that energy comes back for creativity, focus, and action.
- Authenticity clears “mental fog” and makes room for real problem-solving.
- Deeper Relationships
- Authentic people are easier to connect with. When you admit “Yes, I feel anxious about what’s happening in the world,” others feel permission to be real too.
- This creates psychological safety and and trust — at work and in personal life.
- More Meaningful Work
- Being authentic doesn’t mean quitting your job to save the world.
- It means aligning your work with your values, so even small tasks feel less robotic and more purposeful.
- Example: instead of just “doing slides,” you may find ways to make your project more sustainable, people-centered, or compassionate.
- Resilience in Uncertain Times
- Acceptance is the first step to resilience. By saying “Yes, unusual things are happening,” you build mental flexibility.
- You stop wasting energy on denial and start adapting with strength.
- Ripple Effect on Society
- Authenticity spreads. When you acknowledge your feelings about climate, war, or inequality, you may inspire micro-actions in your circle.
- Collective awareness often begins with individual honesty.
Practical Ways to Start Living Authentically
This doesn’t need to be grand or dramatic. Start small:
- Name what you’re feeling. Sad, angry, anxious, helpless — just put words to it.
- Pause before numbing. The next time you reach for endless scrolling, ask: “What am I avoiding right now?”
- Channel it into meaning. Let fear or anger guide you into a small action: improve one process at work, call someone you care about, donate, or conserve.
- Connect with others. Share honestly with a colleague or friend. You’ll discover you’re not the only one carrying suppressed overwhelm.
True authenticity also helps build confidence. If you’re interested in exploring this further, check out my article on gaining confidence at work by being authentic.
The Power of Authenticity to Fuel Action
Maybe you won’t solve global problems today. Maybe not even tomorrow. But here’s the truth: if we stop numbing ourselves and start using our creative minds, some of us will come up with the solutions the world desperately needs.
That “some of us” could be you.
Because authenticity isn’t just about “being true to yourself” — it’s about refusing to live like a robot while the world burns. It’s about facing fear, using it as fuel, and choosing to do something that matters, however small.
Stop Scrolling, Start Feeling: Your Path to an Authentic Life
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, you’re not broken. You’re awake. The overwhelm is real — but so is the possibility of facing it differently.
And watch how fear, once faced, becomes the most surprising ally you’ve ever had.
I share reflections on personal growth, inner clarity, and navigating change—quietly and thoughtfully.
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Feeling Stuck? Let’s Figure It Out Together.
Life can feel overwhelming at times—whether it’s work, decisions, or just finding balance. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. If you’d like a space to reflect, gain clarity, or move forward, feel free to explore my coaching page. I’d love to support you on your journey.
