Comments on: Don’t Fake Yourself Into Failure and Unhappiness

By: On Personal Integrity — The Rat Race Trap

On Personal Integrity — The Rat Race Trap — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:05:09 +0000

[...] published the article Don’t Fake Yourself Into Failure and Unhappiness when my blog was very young, and it remains one of my all time favorites. I think it is a [...]

By: Balance in Relationships: Be True to Self, Connect with Others | Quest for Balance

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:39:15 +0000

[...] Don’t Fake Yourself Into Failure And Unhappiness, from The Rat Race [...]

By: St. Patrick’s Carnival of Happy! « Through The Illusion

St. Patrick’s Carnival of Happy! « Through The Illusion — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:26:21 +0000

[...] The Human B.S. Detector is brought to you by The Rat Trap in Don’t Fake Yourself Into Failure and Unhappiness. [...]

By: Personal Development Carnival (16th March 2009) | Health Money Success

Personal Development Carnival (16th March 2009) | Health Money Success — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:19:53 +0000

[...] Mills presents Don’t Fake Yourself Into Failure and Unhappiness posted at The Rat Race [...]

By: Stephen - Rat Race Trap

Stephen - Rat Race Trap — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:11:58 +0000

@Marj, the power of less in words: Beautifully said!

By: Marj Galangco

Marj Galangco — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:34:24 +0000

This is a very important message, indeed.
The person you are going to hurt the most when you are not being authentic is YOU, but do not be mistaken in believing that it is only you who will be affected.
We are all connected. Think of the us as being part of one big “puzzle”. When you claim who you really are and take your rightful place, you then create the space for millions of other people who would never have found their place in the world if you haven’t found yours!
Can you see the catastrophic repercussions of betraying who you really are? You are doing the world a great disservice by NOT being yourself.
So go ahead and be the most fabulous, magnificent, outrageous, amazing, unique version of… YOU!
The whole world depends on it

By: Stephen - Rat Race Trap

Stephen - Rat Race Trap — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:51:00 +0000

@Jim, I agree with you to some extent. My don’t fake yourself theme is not around a dream or a goal or a desire. In this context “faking it” would be pretending you were a radio announcer and pretending that was your dream job and so forth when in fact you were NOT interested in being a radio announcer. Obviously someone who’s dream is to be a radio announcer is not “faking it” in the context of this article.

Here is the context of my post:

“We are under some misguided belief that hiding certain parts of who we are will lead others to accept us more readily. We believe that if we wear that socially acceptable mask, that somehow we will be happier.”

I have some issues with the honesty but I don’t want to judge the details before I know them.

@Derek, I love the wise man!!!

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:23:47 +0000

A wise man once described to me his philosophy on authenticity as “Why would I try to be a half-assed replica when I am already a wonderful original?”

I strive to be authentic, to always be one consistent representation of myself, especially in the situations where I have the strongest tendencies to follow the herd.

Thanks for the post.

Derek @ NüHabits
(and in the sake of transparency, yes, my putting “@ NüHabits” above was done in a not-so-subtle hope that you will go there and register.

By: Jim DeSantis

Jim DeSantis — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:16:38 +0000

Much of what you have written is true. One cannot be fraudulent but one can “fake it until you make it.”

There was a high school dropout who was a factory worker when an opportunity to become a radio newsman was placed in front of him.

As a youngster he had a dream of being a radio announcer but gave up because he did not have the “education” required.

When the opportunity arose he was determined to make his dream come true and, with hard work and pretending he was an announcer, he was hired at a local radio station 9 months later.

How did he fake it? No one ever found out he was a high school dropout because he “acted” like a professionally trained journalist. He learned the trade and became what he pretended to be.

He went on to win journalism awards and become a respected TV News Anchor and News Director. He hired and fired college educated journalists.

Think I am making this up? It was me! See my profile on my blog.

I believe that anything is possible with enough determination.

Jim DeSantis

By: Stephen - Rat Race Trap

Stephen - Rat Race Trap — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:12:47 +0000

@Jonathan, thanks for the comments. I am very transparent. Some people don’t like what they see. But, I think it makes for a better way in the long-term. The world is a big place and there is room for everyone. We can choose who we do business with or who we play with. Isn’t that wonderful?