The mightiest weapon can a become the most destructive force.
Self-awareness is often touted as a virtue in modern society, a crucial trait for personal growth and success. It allows us to recognize our flaws and strengths, and to improve upon them. But…
what if self-awareness becomes a burden instead of a boon?
This is the terrible paradox of self-awareness, as described by the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa.
Pessoa, was born in Lisbon (1888–1935), when he was just 5 years old he lost his father and right after his brother. His Mother re-mmaried and moved to South Africa where he developed a passion for English literature. At age 17, he returned to Portugal where dedicated most of his time to writing and worked on his masterwork “The Book of Disquiet”, one of the most unique and important works of the 20th century. The Disquiet is often described as “one of the weirdest biographies of someone that never existed…”
Pessoa believed that self-awareness was a double-edged sword that could lead to a person’s downfall.
