​To maintain our own agency and competency, we have to stay experiential. We should test a role model’s values against our own rather than adopting them blindly. It takes immense authenticity and courage to do this without being rattled by how others judge our “unfinished” state.

​I also see a modern parallel with AI. Over-dependence on technology or even an obsession with our own rigid thought processes leads to the same loss of control. Whether it’s a human hero or an algorithm, the moment we stop questioning, we are being controlled.

​I’d love to hear your take: is our growing reliance on external “answers” (human or tech) making this internal grounding harder to achieve?

Thanks for the discerning lens shared by YOU! 🌷👌🏼

Thank you so much, Sandeep. I’m glad the article resonated with you. That feeling of disappointment when role models fall is so universal, yet we rarely talk about how to deal with it properly. Humanizing our heroes is perhaps the kindest thing we can do, for them and for ourselves. When we remember that even the most accomplished people are “works-in-progress”, just like us, we can appreciate their contributions without the burden of expecting perfection. And if or when they stumble, we’re disappointed but not devastated.
I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.