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THE REAL YOU

When no one’s watching, what are you really?

We perform for the world, but in silence, the truth comes out

3 min readJun 20, 2025

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Photo by Dev Asangbam on Unsplash

It is a strange question. Not “Who are you?” But what are you?

I have asked this to myself more than once.

Not in front of a mirror, but in moments of silence, moments when no one was around, no friends, no family, no social media. Just me and my breath and and I was surprised by what I found.

We all carry two versions of ourselves. One that lives outside…Tidy, presentable, expressive, well-behaved, proper, controlled. And one that lives quietly inside…Raw, confused, strange… maybe even wild. That version comes out only when no one is watching and maybe that is the real one.

Think about it.

When no one is around, you sing louder, you laugh like an idiot, you talk to yourself in the kitchen, you dance with two left feet and call it fun, you stop performing and start existing. Suddenly, the ‘you’ who cared so much about how your hair looked… no longer bothers to even comb it. The ‘you’ who carefully picks what to say… blurts out random thoughts without fear.

That freedom…It only comes when no one is looking.

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Pen With Paper
Pen With Paper

Published in Pen With Paper

‘We Elevate Your Stories’– Amplifying new voices, celebrating creativity, and ensuring your best work shines. We’re a family of readers and writers, supporting, uplifting, and helping each other’s words make a real impact. Welcome to your writing home!

Adarsh
Adarsh

Written by Adarsh

Founder & Editor of "Break. Breathe. Become." Curious mind on a journey, writing about anything that sparks my interest. Exploring life, one story at a time.

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