The Illusion of Authenticity

In our modern world, there is often a tense conflict between genuine feelings and the mask we are forced to display before society. An inner rift arises when inflated or even illusory perceptions of our own significance undermine the authenticity of our experiences, transforming them into feigned reactions. This dynamic creates an emotional state where deeply personal feelings shift into an unnatural spectrum of superficial emotions.

The main problem lies in that genuine self-esteem is replaced by external status displays, where every aspect of self-expression is oriented toward satisfying others’ expectations. As a result, true emotional perception loses its flexibility and adaptability, giving way to a fictitious "self" that exists solely to conform to social norms.

Moreover, the desire to distance oneself from society increasingly arises as a reaction to the shallow standards that prevail in everyday life. When moral and personal values are supplanted by conventions and formal decency, the urge to sever artificial ties becomes almost inevitable. People seek liberation from externally imposed norms in their quest to return to genuine relationships—ones based on real values rather than conventions.

Thus, our emotional state and social connections become intricately entwined with the temptation to conform to external expectations, often leading to a sense of insincerity in one’s own feelings. Recognizing this inner struggle can be the first step toward discovering the true self and building relationships free of imposed standards.

Why do emotions sometimes feel feigned, and what might contribute to the desire to break all ties?

At times, a person may feel that their emotions seem feigned when an internal disconnect arises between their true experiences and the outward image they are forced to project. This can occur when internal self-esteem revolves around inflated or even illusory notions of one’s own significance, ultimately distorting the authenticity of emotional responses. One source describes that the range of emotions fluctuates from profoundly deep experiences to basic feelings, and when "beyond ordinary self-assertion there is the dominant self-assertion characteristic of certain individuals aspiring to high appraisal from others—a person develops an illusory notion of their own significance, resulting in a loss of adaptability in their emotional attitude towards people" (source: 131_654.txt). Thus, the sense of feigned emotions may arise from the internal conflict between the true self and the forced display of emotions—an image that conforms to exaggerated expectations.

Regarding the desire to sever all ties, this sentiment can form under the influence of an environment where society is guided not by moral or internal principles, but by formal decency and external standards. One source notes: "We have developed a society… where it is solemnly recognized that not moral, not internal principles, but 'decency' should be the foundation of society. This society is 'light.' With it, connections must be severed" (source: 1211_6053.txt). This underscores that such a superficial societal structure can provoke the desire to distance oneself by breaking ties, as genuine human relationships become replaced by artificial social norms.

Thus, the feeling that one’s own emotions are feigned may be linked to an inner imbalance, where inflated or illusory self-perceptions shape an unnatural emotional response. Likewise, the yearning to sever ties reflects a reaction to a society built on formal external standards rather than on genuine internal values.

Supporting citation(s):
" The range of emotions may fluctuate from super-significant experiences corresponding to very high levels of needs, which are often found to be unattainable... A person develops an illusory notion of his significance, which results in a loss of adaptability in his emotional attitude towards people." (source: 131_654.txt)

"We have developed a society… where it is solemnly recognized that not moral, not internal principles, but 'decency' should be the foundation of society. This society is 'light.' With it, connections must be severed." (source: 1211_6053.txt)