“I was ashamed of myself when I realized that life was a costume party, and I attended with my real face.”Franz Kafka

Kafka’s words made me question the whole idea of authenticity. Do people actually like those who are truly real, or is “authenticity” just another social script we perform? We talk about embracing our true selves, but what does that even mean—and is it possible when so much of life revolves around perception, expectation, and playing the social game? Have you noticed how certain personas are rewarded while others are sidelined? Are we stifled by society’s rules, or are we the ones enforcing them on ourselves? Is being “real” even possible or are all just choosing different masks to wear? How do you think about this social game (“the circle”)?