We all think we’re being real—whether in public or in private—but the deeper challenge is questioning whether we truly know our real selves at all. In any case, even when we know ourselves we might face various pressures that push us to fit in or not cause trouble – so even the most well-intentioned person might struggle to always be 100% real in public. Sometimes the simplest questions are actually the most complex. Thankfully, we have some wonderful members of the community who offered to share their thoughts on this challenging question.
Miosotty Ortega Cruz
The public version of me is a fragment, polished for the world. It’s disciplined, purposeful, and in control—but it’s not everything I am. The real me lives in the quiet moments: the resilience forged in loss, the creativity that refuses to be tamed, the love I carry for my children, the lessons learned in the spaces where no one is watching. Read more>>
TIAGO CARLOTTO
well, I do not live a life or perform as before, for be out to the public environment and when I was only working with entertainment, I do had a lot of myself in my music and form of expression. actually I can wear fun clothing and cool makes and costumes, outfits, its a great and true part of myself for sure. Read more>>
JaNae Contag
NÆ (JaNae Contag): Yes and no! But I’ll explain. I believe that in any aspect of what we do when we are around others, there is an element of performance / performativity. We act differently at our jobs than we do with our friends, and differently still with our family. It is the same person / personality, but adapted to various environments and contexts. Read more>>
Carla Golembe
Yes, the public version of me is the real me. I’m not good at pretending. I’ve always been who I am and I don’t know how to or want to be anyone else. Being true to oneself is an important value to me, both in myself and in other people. I’m a person, not a persona. Read more>>
Rasha Hamzeh
I would say yes, the public version of me is the real me. What you see is what you get. I’ve always believed that authenticity isn’t about oversharing or being unfiltered for the sake of it. It’s about alignment — making sure that who you are in private doesn’t contradict who you are in public. Read more>>
MATTHEW ROSE
Wonderful question. The answer of objectivity and subjectivity, self-awareness and the public perception of my private reality is rife with complications. The answer is yes and no. We all perform in front of the people we know, the people we don’t know and ourselves. Self-deception is a permanent aspect of our realities, our subjective consciousness. Read more>>
