I often feel this way, but I don't phrase it as character traits (which I think is a super interesting way to frame it) but more as "labels" - people apply a few labels on you as the ones they remember the most. So how do we shed labels and be remembered for who we really are? is it possible to in today's society of high speed/efficiency and fleetingness?
AHH catherine, thank you for reading & your thought provoking questions!!! (: I think the reason why character traits resonated more than labels is because I feel like it explains someone one layer deeper than layers (ie. "tech bro" vs "shy nerd with a cool street style." But I think they both have the same effect on people. I think maybe this is why going abroad/moving somewhere new to build your own identity again resonates with people so much. It's almost like we love "rebrands" bc it's more and more chances to inch closer to discovering who we are really. I also think this is why true "rebrands" come with time & inner peace -- otherwise we just get wrapped up into all the things around us.
I remember us discussing trajectories (self-oriented vs expectation-oriented)--this really resonates! I wonder though--you view being a "character" through the lens of limitation, but sometimes I feel that being a "character" is liberating in a way. Curious what benefits characterization has brought you :)
yes!! I was talking about this with my friend yesterday too that I feel like I can definitely see positive aspects of being able to view yourself as a character esp to take on traits you want to have -- I think the limiting aspect comes when those aspects of you that you take on to be that "character" aren't actually very authentic to who you are as a person. It's this sort of cognitive dissonance that I feel like has a adverse affect of the long term. I feel like I can become a "extrovert" even though I'm really a introvert which has helped me a lot with working in very people-facing roles (vc, journalism, pm, etc) but it became super exhausting to "actually be a extrovert" bc I don't find energy through interactions. It's definitely still something I'm still thinking through because I feel like part of the reason why I feel like I have so many "past lives" is because I can become so focused into living like the person/reality I want to be in the future so much so that I eventually get there (:
I often feel this way, but I don't phrase it as character traits (which I think is a super interesting way to frame it) but more as "labels" - people apply a few labels on you as the ones they remember the most. So how do we shed labels and be remembered for who we really are? is it possible to in today's society of high speed/efficiency and fleetingness?
Excited for your author era :)
AHH catherine, thank you for reading & your thought provoking questions!!! (: I think the reason why character traits resonated more than labels is because I feel like it explains someone one layer deeper than layers (ie. "tech bro" vs "shy nerd with a cool street style." But I think they both have the same effect on people. I think maybe this is why going abroad/moving somewhere new to build your own identity again resonates with people so much. It's almost like we love "rebrands" bc it's more and more chances to inch closer to discovering who we are really. I also think this is why true "rebrands" come with time & inner peace -- otherwise we just get wrapped up into all the things around us.
I remember us discussing trajectories (self-oriented vs expectation-oriented)--this really resonates! I wonder though--you view being a "character" through the lens of limitation, but sometimes I feel that being a "character" is liberating in a way. Curious what benefits characterization has brought you :)
yes!! I was talking about this with my friend yesterday too that I feel like I can definitely see positive aspects of being able to view yourself as a character esp to take on traits you want to have -- I think the limiting aspect comes when those aspects of you that you take on to be that "character" aren't actually very authentic to who you are as a person. It's this sort of cognitive dissonance that I feel like has a adverse affect of the long term. I feel like I can become a "extrovert" even though I'm really a introvert which has helped me a lot with working in very people-facing roles (vc, journalism, pm, etc) but it became super exhausting to "actually be a extrovert" bc I don't find energy through interactions. It's definitely still something I'm still thinking through because I feel like part of the reason why I feel like I have so many "past lives" is because I can become so focused into living like the person/reality I want to be in the future so much so that I eventually get there (: