We’re always vulnerable to emotional upheaval. Change is inevitable, and it rarely comes when or how we expect it will. What’s worse, somehow it never gets easier to manage: Our collective failure to deal well with change supports a host of industries, from psychoanalysis to plastic surgery. The prevailing wisdom of the day is that staying true to oneself is the only way to navigate the stormy seas of uncertainty. Authenticity is big business these days. Brené Brown skyrocketed into the public eye with a series of TED Talks, books and a Netflix special this year about using our deepest personal vulnerabilities as fuel for bravery. Decades ago, Oprah amassed a huge fortune encouraging women to know, and live, their truths. The corporate world has gotten This story is from Kinfolk Issue Thirty-Five Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 19 Going Incognito We all secretly wonder what mischief we’d make if invisible: When our identity is hidden, everything seems possible. Arts & Culture Issue 19 The Best Policy Sometimes we talk to each other without feeling heard. Honesty—a most intimate interaction—can be just as thrilling as its more devious inverse. Arts & Culture Issue 19 A Sense of Suspense With unhinged imaginations and mountains of cliff-hangers, the filmmakers behind the sci-fi podcast Limetown have all the makings of a scary story. Arts & Culture Issue 19 Like Clockwork In this new column about time, we learn how slipping off our watches makes us feel like deadline-damning renegades. Arts & Culture Music Issue 19 On a Grander Scale Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna now may live on the opposite side of the globe, but she’s determined to evolve while staying true to her roots. Arts & Culture Issue 19 Neighborhood: Fire Stations The firefighting profession has evolved over time from Ancient Rome’s rudimentary bucket brigades to today’s sleek life-saving departments.
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