Returning to your natural self beneath social conditioning; removing the performed identities that isolate you from authentic relating.
The Taoist symbol of the uncarved block represents original nature before conditioning and artifice. Social media encourages endless carving—selecting filters, angles, words, and narratives to present a refined version of yourself. This constant curation fragments your sense of self and disconnects you from others doing the same fragmentation. Laozi emphasizes returning to simplicity and wholeness. The loneliness you feel isn't from lack of followers but from the exhaustion of maintaining a false block. By gradually releasing curated performance and returning to your uncarved self—your genuine thoughts, mundane experiences, actual struggles—you become magnetic to those seeking the same authenticity. This doesn't mean oversharing; it means releasing the compulsion to be perpetually impressive. Your natural self, without embellishment, paradoxically becomes more relatable and less isolating than any carefully crafted persona.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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