Lets Play The "Fake" Game To Please Unpleasable

"Starting back in childhood, I began an enslaving habit of fulfilling dysfunctional roles I clung to for self—esteem. In many cases, these roles were a result of my caving in to others’ demands and expectations. Like a dog conditioned to roll over in exchange for a treat, I performed the roles in hopes of receiving some bone of self—worth. Some of these roles I identified as “Chameleon”—continually taking the shape of other’s expectations; “Star Performer”—striving to accomplish something extraordinary; “Victim”—blaming past wounds as justification for failure; “Healer”—taking responsibility for fixing or compensating for the wounds and sorrows of others. As the story of my life played on, new characters were introduced, fresh backdrops were wheeled in, and different plots emerged, but I stuck to the scripts others handed me. Each time I played the part, another layer of pretense smothered my innermost being and true self to near extinction." (Jim Palmer. Wide Open Spaces)