Chapter 0

[EN]

Perfection vs Authenticity

"Don't strive for perfection, strive for authenticity"

◼️From time to time, I come across images or phrases that make me reflect deeply. This week’s post is about the pressure that is felt and created towards being a perfect human in today’s age, which is often the one thing that is holding us back from achieving greater things in life.

In an era where we have to question everything, authenticity is becoming harder and harder to identify. Misinformation is now the norm and the credibility we attribute to official news channels/entities is lessening each day. From the moment when we started giving awards to holograms and to fictional AI-generated people passing as real people online, it started to show the direction and impact of this digital era and its intent.

Having grown up with parents who both had careers in the television industry, I proudly believe in the power of communication, its necessity and longevity. Nonetheless, it is up to each one of us to choose which channel to believe, and unfortunately, the information that is accessible nowadays is producing more doubt than resolution.

The pressure to be perfect on and off camera is sometimes created by our own selves, after constantly being bombarded with information and social media posts regarding the things we would like to achieve or should have already achieved by a certain age. Other times, that pressure is imposed upon us by our parents, co-workers, society, our partners, culture, norms, etc… The important thing to retain is that nothing is truly perfect in life. However, it can be made “perfect” within our own criteria, so long as we work hard enough to please that ideal. Yet it can also be an endless race against time that just leaves people feeling unsatisfied with what they already have around them.

For those who are formatted to strive for perfection, it is hard to let go of that unrealistic desire and it's a long learning curve, but it is possible.

In the working environment everyone knows me as being a perfectionist at heart. I don’t mind working extra hours if the client is still not satisfied with the result, because at the end of the day my job is to help bring his/her vision to life. As long as the team has good working conditions assured, I am always a happy kid on set.

In my personal life, I try to let go of that constraint in order to let myself feel freer, and as a 27-year-old young adult, I'm the weird one who opts to give more time to living offline by truly being present in the moment.

In the fashion and entertainment world it is unavoidable that people will judge everything you say, do, feel, think, because it is not possible to please everybody. And I can guarantee that there will always be someone who will not agree with the creative decisions made, due to art being extremely subjective. What may look ethereal and pristine to some could look bland and uninspired to others, for example. And that’s ok. But it's undeniable that the demand and insistence to shape someone into the image the person imagined is so strong that some lose their essence.

Being authentic is losing its meaning, as no one can know for sure if what/who they are supporting is real or not. Kindness is not encouraged and it can surprisingly be seen as a sign of weakness. Individuality is being misinterpreted and used as an excuse to justify actions that only protect the self, but had a negative impact on others around. And the list goes on... Regardless, I don't consider truthful that just because these values are being implemented in society with blurred lines, we should accept them and pretend that it is fine as it is. Rather than complain about it, what we can do is look at our own actions and behaviours and reflect on how we can improve them to be better people, better citizens and better friends.

And that is why, although it may not be perfect, I decided to create this blog. I call it my 'creative space' and it'll be a mix of a few different themes, random thoughts that sometimes occur in my mind, as well as a place to reminisce about the past together with you by sharing the life lessons I've learned so far which helped me become who I am today. I plan on bringing you untold stories of my career and journey in life, that I believe may be of interest to you and maybe even help in some way.

I called it "MC's PointOfView" due to the fact that it is based on my perspective, my experiences and my opinions. So, if any of my content is taken as insulting, or even offensive, I apologise in advance. Unfortunately, I will not be making a disclaimer for every sentence that I write as it would be bothersome for those reading, so thank you for your understanding.

As a final remark I would like to add that just because this is my opinion on a matter, it doesn't mean that I am not open to discussing it further in a moderate and considerate conversation between people with different views. I see discussions as necessary and part of growth, so as long as there is a sense of respect for both parties and an open mind to truly listen to each other, they are always welcomed in the comments below.◻️