To establish oneself in the world, one does all one can to seem established there already.

What did François de La Rochefoucauld mean by:

To establish oneself in the world, one does all one can to seem established there already.

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This quote essentially speaks about the law of attraction and the power of perception. It suggests that to secure a position or status in society, one must project an image of already having attained that status. This is based on the principle that people are more likely to accept and recognize us for what we appear to be, rather than what we are striving to become.

In essence, it is about ‘faking it until you make it’. This doesn’t mean being dishonest or insincere, but rather, it’s about embodying the confidence, skills, and demeanor associated with the position or status we aspire to have. By doing this, we attract opportunities that align with our goals, and people start to see and treat us as if we have already achieved them. This, in turn, can help us to actually achieve those goals.

In today’s world, this concept is quite prevalent and can be applied in various domains of life. For example, in a professional setting, if you aspire to be a leader, you start by adopting the qualities of a good leader – taking initiative, being responsible, making decisions, etc. Even if you are not in a leadership position yet, behaving like a leader can make others perceive you as one, and this can eventually lead to actual leadership opportunities.

Similarly, in personal development, if you want to be more confident, you start by acting confidently. Even if you don’t feel confident initially, by consistently behaving as if you are, you start to genuinely feel more confident over time.

However, it’s important to note that while this strategy can be effective, it must be paired with genuine effort and growth. Simply appearing confident without developing real confidence, or appearing like a leader without developing leadership skills, can lead to a hollow facade. Therefore, while you ‘fake it’, you should also be ‘making it’ by continuously learning, growing, and improving.

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