At your worst or not at all.

How honestly do you present yourself to the world?

This week was an eye opening one for many reasons, but I experienced one major realisation - why it matters to be as stripped back as possible in certain situations.

Many years ago, reading about the philosophy of stoicism, I came across a quote by a Roman emperor (I will endeavour to find this and update my post) that outlined his regular practice of going out in public in his worst clothes and, from memory, experienced life from the perspective of a beggar to experience the worst that life had to offer him. This helped him to overcome what many feared in life - by experiencing it first hand.

I believe we should try and take something away from this practice and apply it as far as we are willing to. Bring it all back to basics. Force yourself into being uncomfortable. Learn from the experience and identify a new perspective. For anyone reading this that the above conditions are too extreme for, try be more of who you actually are in the world. Don’t hide behind the labels or behind the technology helping to distract and disconnect you from the moment. Be yourself, freely, without hesitations and be present.

If people can’t accept you in your rawest from, or even at your worst, should they be someone you take on your journey through life? Should they be someone you even do business with?

See if people can accept you at your worst moments in life - many wont, but some will. Find them and hold onto them.