cringe tolerance
Embarassment is pro-human, anti-perfectionism, and perhaps the way you can reclaim your humanity.
Emilina Lomas • The Case for Being Cringe
Ways you can confront embarrassment:
- Dancing badly in public
- Mispronouncing a word
- Posting content that’s not “cool”
- Singing loudly
- Trying something new as an adult
- Asking a question you “should know”
- Going to the gym as a beginner
- Speaking a new language
- Trying out a new style
Emilina Lomas • The Case for Being Cringe
i was freaking out and overthinking and feeling horrible because I realised I mispronounced the word “abundance” all through an episode…. months ago I published, inly recently realised it, and still suffered. for not having perfect english? so what?! i can speak 3 languages!!!
Embarassment exposure therapy
When you experience embarrassment, view it as muscle building. You get stronger every time you use it. It’s uncomfortable, but you build resilience. Your life gets bigger when your willingness to look stupid expands.
When you experience embarrassment, view it as muscle building. You get stronger every time you use it. It’s uncomfortable, but you build resilience. Your life gets bigger when your willingness to look stupid expands.
Emilina Lomas • The Case for Being Cringe
Perhaps you’re embarrassed when you appear too keen — very common (especially in the UK, where I’m from). But what is being too keen? Keenness is awesome! It’s excitement, it’s optimism, it’s energy — it’s knowing what you want and being in the active pursuit of it. Why would you care if people thought you were too much of this awesome emotion?
You... See more
You... See more
Emilina Lomas • The Case for Being Cringe
What makes you embarrassed? Follow it. Learn about it. Befriend your embarrassment. It may reveal what you want in life.
Emilina Lomas • The Case for Being Cringe
this ties in together also with how to figure out what you want in life!!!
Kierkegaard would argue that embarrassment is simply the discomfort of confronting your true self. For him, it wasn’t despair that was sadness — it was the act of living as someone you’re not. It was living as your online persona, never getting in touch with your messy authentic self. When you feel embarrassed, you’re brushing up against honesty.
Emilina Lomas • The Case for Being Cringe
embarrassment is often the moment where authenticity breaks through. Our authentic selves are messy and childlike and afraid and eager and all the emotions that seem a little bit too much for the modern world.
Emilina Lomas • The Case for Being Cringe
embarrassment feels catastrophic — life-ending even — because we’re constantly managing our image. We feel vulnerable and exposed.
Emilina Lomas • The Case for Being Cringe
Embarrassment isn’t just about doing something “cringe” — it’s about the tension between who you are and who you’re trying to appear to be.