Glory Post
I feel like I’ve been trapped by my own self-perception. Sometimes, it gives me strength, but other times, it holds me back—even keeps me from moving forward. The moment I realized this, I finally understood what people mean when they say: “You have to break yourself first before you can become a better version of yourself.“
I can’t remember exactly when or where I first heard this, but it must have left an impression on me. Then one evening, while waiting for the subway after work, the words hit me like a lightning bolt.
In that instant, my self-awareness shifted. Suddenly, I felt like I was shedding the labels I had placed on myself—or the ones given to me by others. Good, bad—it didn’t seem to matter anymore. It all felt so… flimsy. I realized I could live up to these labels, or I could tear them apart in seconds. Either way, they were limiting and superficial.
And yet, consciously or not, I’ve been shaped by these definitions, these ideas of who I’m “supposed” to be.
Fake It Till You Make It
Tell your brain who you are, and it will believe you.
The world is built on stories. Things, in and of themselves, are meaningless—we are the ones who assign them value.
Take a simple product in a supermarket. There, it’s just a commodity, judged by function and price. But dress it up in fancy packaging, slap on a high-end label, and craft a compelling brand story—it suddenly transforms into a coveted fashion item, a status symbol.
Maybe it’s because I’ve worked in branding and e-commerce for so long that I see through these illusions more easily. I can usually tell a product’s real cost, how much of its value comes from genuine craftsmanship versus just smart marketing.
But when it comes to self-perception, things get trickier.
We live in an era that constantly preaches, “Be yourself. Stay true to who you are.” But what if our “true self” isn’t all that strong or confident? What if it’s full of hesitation, insecurity, or a tendency to hold back?
If there’s a version of me that’s more successful, more capable—should I settle for who I am now, or strive to become that person?
That’s where “fake it till you make it” comes in—not as a form of deception, but as a mindset shift.
This isn’t about pretending to be something you’re not. It’s about giving yourself a positive internal narrative that shapes your actions. It’s about choosing to step into a new mental state that propels you forward.
If everyone sees you as confident and outgoing, even if deep down you have anxious moments, does that mean you’re being fake? Or does it mean you’re actively shaping the version of yourself that you want to be?
Telling yourself a lie over and over until you believe it—well, why not tell yourself a good lie? One that lifts you up instead of holding you back?
"Not Yet" is Not a Definition
“Not yet” is just your current state. It doesn’t define your future.
Just because you can’t do something today doesn’t mean you won’t master it months or years from now. We often think of personal growth as an addition—learning more, gaining skills, accumulating experience. But true growth? It’s just as much about subtraction.
Shedding old beliefs. Breaking free from limiting mindsets. Tearing yourself down and rebuilding into someone new.
Our brains resist change because comfort feels safe. But if we always wait to “naturally” become better, we might stay the same forever.
The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
There’s a psychological concept called the self-fulfilling prophecy—if you believe something strongly enough, your actions will unconsciously shape that belief into reality.
In other words, you are the story you tell yourself.
Your mindset, values, and abilities form the foundation of who you are. Everything else? That’s just the house you build on top of it. And guess what? You can tear it down and rebuild it anytime you choose.
We are not static beings. We are constantly evolving, constantly rewriting our own narratives.
So if you feel held back by your doubts, by your old self, clear the slate. Let go of the small things that once weighed you down.
Because the “you” of the past? That’s just an old version.
And right now, you’re upgrading to something greater.
