Living authentically is a lifelong pursuit. But how do we define authenticity? Can we truly find and live out our "true self"? Is my unhappiness a result of not living authentically? Self-help books often address these questions, teaching self-awareness as the path to discovering and embodying one’s true self. Today, let’s explore this concept together.

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Recently, I reread Gender Trouble by Judith Butler, a key text in gender theory. Butler questions the existence of an essential self that exists independently of societal norms, countering the idea of an "untainted, natural self." In simple terms, Butler challenges the concept of a "blank slate," suggesting that it’s society that shapes and labels us from the start.

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This view synthesizes Nietzsche’s On the Genealogy of Morals and Foucault's exploration of power, where they, like Butler, argue the blank slate never existed. The very notion of an untouched self is a societal construct. Thus, the “natural self” is actually a result of societal influence, not a cause of it.

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In other words, our concept of a pure, innate self is not the origin of social norms but rather their outcome. Searching for an authentic self in response to societal disillusionment is misguided since it’s society itself that molds our idea of selfhood.

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Looking at the notion of self-discovery, we can see that concepts like "finding oneself" are often backward; our societal expectations guide this journey. Attempting to find the original self will not resolve issues created by social structures, which encourage us to look inward instead of questioning external influences.

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Following Butler’s perspective, the key to addressing life’s uncertainties lies in examining the external structures around us rather than solely introspection. Many self-help courses ask us to confront an internal "intent" and refuse a "victim mindset," yet this approach often overlooks societal power dynamics that profoundly impact our well-being.

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