Everyone struggles with a fake identity at least once in their life.

A multicar accident in 2002 triggered insecurities and childhood trauma.

Primed with survival habits, self-preservation switched into numbness.

Unfortunately, I developed into a fake hero in everyone's eyes.

Friends who avoided suffering disappeared.

Fake friends who praised heroism appeared.

When I almost lost everything again during The Great Recession (2007-2009), I decided that the fakery needed to stop.

Here's how I stopped being a fake hero:

Stop giving a f*ck.

Just like this strong statement, someone is going to find fault with it.

...research tells us that we judge people in areas where we're vulnerable to shame, especially picking folks who are doing worse than we're doing. ― Brené Brown, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

People pass judgement because of their own insecurities.

Not giving a f*ck is salvation from living a double-life.