That's why women so often pretend that they are "simple", as if they are deliberately muting their intelligence. It seems that it is difficult to talk to smart people, but easier to talk to those who don't seem to understand everything. Maybe this is a defense? Or a way to avoid unnecessary questions and arguments?

Sometimes it seems that intelligence is a light that is too bright for everyone to withstand 🌞. And if you shine too brightly, people either close up or start looking at you with suspicion, as if you want to prove something or show yourself off as better. And sometimes you just want to be ordinary, not compete in intelligence and not explain every little thing.

Inside, when you pretend that you don't know, you still understand everything. You see how the world around you tries to set its own rules, how people are sometimes afraid of honesty and true depth. Maybe that's why it's easier to play the role of "a little naive" - there's less pain and fewer expectations.

But sometimes this role becomes heavy, like a mask that you want to take off. And then you start to wonder - who am I really? At what point does pretense become a part of me? And is it possible to be yourself without fear of being misunderstood or rejected?

It's funny that on the one hand you want to talk about complex topics, and on the other hand, you just want to smile and not think about anything. Perhaps that's why many pretend to be "uneducated" - to maintain ease in communication and not tire themselves or others.

But what if it's the smart woman who hides her true level who is the most interesting? The one with whom you want to talk longer, learn more, see the world from a different side. But she's not always ready to open up, because she already knows how difficult it is to do so.

I often ask myself — if I stop pretending, will the world around me be better? Or, on the contrary, will I be afraid that I will lose those who are used to seeing only the "superficial" me? 😕 Sometimes it seems that pretending is not a weakness, but a way to preserve yourself in a world that is not always ready for honesty.

Have you ever had the feeling that it is easier to pretend that you do not understand than to engage in a difficult conversation? Or, on the contrary, do you want to be extremely honest, even if it scares others? I think that this is real strength — not to be afraid to be yourself, even if it means being different from everyone else.

Masha