The need to fit in - social situation, workplaces, social circle, etc. - is an inevitable part of cohabiting in this world.
An inevitable part of life.
We, humans, are evolutionary predisposed to be a part of a group if we are to survive, and being a part of a group - a tribe, a community, a society - comes inherently with the cost of compromising, of fitting in.
Cost of temporarily suspending parts of ourselves.
And so is always comes at a cost. And that cost accumulates.
Sometimes, the accumulated cost leads to us losing ourselves to the point where we wake up one morning and it hits us that we no longer know who we are.
We may have felt that for a long time, somewhere subtle, at scattered moments in time, until, one day, it hits us with its full force.
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As such, in the world that demands constant fitting in and constant compromise, it is wise to practice mindful and intentional discernment in which situations are deserving of our temporary suspending of parts of ourselves.
Because even those situations that we assess and evaluate as worthy of that exchange come at a cost.
Spend wisely and intentionally.
Be mindful not to allow fitting in to become a habit.
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