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.
Mariana Monterrubio
The public version of me is part of the real me — but it isn’t the whole story. What people see is my work, my smiles, my confidence, and the moments I choose to share: the wins, the teaching, the encouragement. Read More>>
Sarah Rowan
This question absolutely thrills me because between the ages of 20-40, I would have wanted to say yes, and maybe even convinced myself that I was telling the truth. In craving acceptance, I wore a mask, and it was exhausting! I allowed my family, community and belief system of the time to mould and shape me as they desired, while inside I was slowly dying. Read More>>
Selena Thiele
Oh, yes. This actually became a core tenet of how Office Mercenary works. Generic corporate, vague blah wasn’t who we are as people and didn’t want to try to tone ourselves down to be more palatable to those who like bland, greige work interactions. Read More>>
Lisa Hammer
Yes, depending on my mood, I’m either a shy, ice-queen, ethereal singer or an absurdist filmmaker with a very dark sense of humor. It can be confusing to music fans to see me as anything but the ethereal princess, but I assure you, both sides of me live harmoniously together. Read More>>
Hulya Kurt
That’s such a powerful question. For me, the public version of who I am is not a performance — it is very much a reflection of the real me. Read More>>
Kristy Mickelsen
For the most part the public version of me is the real me. I think the main difference is the public gets a better dressed version of me than how I dress at home. And the public gets a less stressed version of me than what my family and friends actually get. Read More>>
Alex Lopez Ahr
Yes. I have an acute sense of the hollow pit underneath the facade of bureaucratic and constructed reality. I am typically just a number, a tax ID, an employee, or a spot in a queue. As a result, I take up as much honest room in my public pursuits as allowed- I rebel against being objectified by the systems that demand such a position. Read More>>
Brad Hammer
I am not even sure if I have a public image. In my early 20’s I was an actor and in front of the camera and loved all that attention. Once I fell in love with being behind the camera, I have enjoyed being more low profile. Read More>>
