The Unpolished Truth: When Being Original Comes at a Cost

In a world obsessed with authenticity, it is ironic how the original ones suffer the most. Social media preaches “Be yourself, and the world will adjust,” but does it really? If that were true, why do the genuine ones often find themselves outcasted, misunderstood, and sidelined—at home, in workplaces, and within their own families?


The world has always had a bias for the polished over the raw. That’s why dishes are decorated before being served. No one wants to see the chaos of preparation, the splattered oil, the burned edges—the true process of creation. Instead, they want the illusion of perfection, even if it’s just for show. The same principle applies to people.


At work, the polished worker—the one who fits the mold, smiles at the right time, and knows how to decorate their words—is preferred. Even if another worker is more hardworking, more authentic, and truly dedicated, they are often overlooked because their truth lacks packaging. Their rawness makes others uncomfortable.


At home, original personalities—those who refuse to conform to outdated norms, who challenge toxic patterns, who express emotions freely—are often labeled as "too much." They become the black sheep, the troublemakers, the ones who are “hard to handle.” Their aggression, their catharsis, their way of expressing pain does not fit the accepted narrative of suffering silently. And because their emotions don’t align with the expected script, they are dismissed, gaslighted, and at worst, completely alienated.


Society does not embrace originality; it tolerates it in controlled doses. It loves authenticity when it is palatable, digestible, and presentable. But the moment originality becomes inconvenient—too loud, too bold, too raw—it is cast aside. The world does not adjust for the original; the original either bends or breaks.


So, what happens to the real ones? They either suppress their truth until they no longer recognize themselves, or they walk alone, carrying the weight of their unfiltered existence. Some find their tribe, a rare few who understand the value of their unpolished brilliance. But for most, the journey is one of constant friction—at home, at work, and in their own minds.


And yet, despite it all, they remain true. Because even if the world prefers decorated dishes, there will always be those who crave the raw taste of reality. And that is where true strength lies—in refusing to be anything but real, even when the world looks away.


To all the originals out there: You are not alone. You are not wrong. You are just too real for a world that prefers the illusion of perfection.


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