LibraryScenariosWhen being the smart one becomes your whole identity
Scenario

When being the smart one becomes your whole identity

Someone in the meeting solved the thing before I did, and instead of being glad, I felt something cold drop in my stomach. My whole life I've been "the smart one," the person who figures it out, so the moment I struggle or someone outshines me, it doesn't feel like a normal gap in skill. It feels like a crack in who I am.

Aurelius
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More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

Your identity rests on being the smart one, so any struggle feels like a threat to who you are.

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.