Alter ego
Truthfulness.
Major principle. If you care abotu the person you talk to - be honest. Never hide your identity (meaning, of course, not about going under cover for CIA or something, but rather fooling the people around you about yourself on a day to day basis). Simply put - they don't deserve it.
Why would you hide from them? Not to scare or hurt them?! How are they special to you, how have they deserved for you to take care of them?! They haven't.
Being oneself is being free. Never ever ever pretend to be "something you're not." Truth frees you. Are you afraid to expose a fragile self to a cruel world? The world is cruel to you in physical ways - protect yourself physically. The world targets your mind/soul/self - it is not protected anyway, even if they don't know. Better to expose yourself - they might be compassionate(Fors fortis...) or you have the chance to strenghten yourself.
There are days when you feel so hurt you can't even force yourself to relax your arms from protecting your chest. The whole world is after you and you have to protect yourself. Sure. You can't be strong all the time. But you can try. Try to show your true self. Try not to laugh if you don't feel happy. Try not to speak if you don't feel like talking. Try not to smile if you are sad. Try to be yourself. For an hour, for a day.... forever?
Try. It's the only path to success.
