What if you didn’t want to be a brand, but just a person who overthinks their captions?
Ten years ago, ‘public image’ belonged to celebrities, politicians, and people whose lives depended on red carpets and press releases. These days, the spotlight has widened. The moment you open an Instagram account or post something on LinkedIn, you step into the world of personal branding — sometimes without even realizing it, without even willing to.
Managing how we’re seen online is a phenomenon today, and it can feel like a full-time job. So, no wonder so many of us find it exhausting.
That’s where perception anxiety starts to creep in.
That lowkey panic you feel when you post something and immediately wonder whether that came off weird? — that’s perception anxiety. It’s the mental spiral that hits after you publish a tweet, post, story, or text, where you overanalyze how people might interpret it, whether you sounded okay, or if you accidentally gave someone the ick by simply existing online.
The Truth is We’re All Performing All the Time Now
We often acknowledge that the internet is a selective space — a place where we filter and edit until our lives look presentable. What we talk about less is how this habit of editing bleeds into our everyday selves. It’s not just about picking the right filter or crafting a clever caption anymore.
It’s about constantly shaping how we’re seen, again and again. And again.
I’m not just talking about influencers and content creators. I’m talking about regular people. The ones who feel a tinge of anxiety before posting a selfie. The ones who hesitate before tweeting a joke, because what if it is perceived wrongly? The ones who panic over how long to wait before liking someone’s post back.
We’re all performing — even when we think we’re not.
At work, we shift between being approachable and being all business, almost like we’re playing different roles. Online, we sometimes let our fear take over, second-guessing what future employers or acquaintances might think about us. In social spaces, we try to be funny, relaxed, thoughtful, and just mysterious enough — all at the same time. It’s no surprise we end up feeling worn out.
Who Created This Personality for Us?
It’s a funny thing, how we adapt from one space to another. I don’t think it’s inauthentic — most of us shift quite naturally, showing different sides of ourselves that are all genuine.
It’s a bit like having a filter for each mood.
But even then, when someone catches a version of us that we didn’t intend to share, it can feel unsettling, as if we’ve been seen in a way we weren’t ready for.
But here’s something to consider: if you’re constantly uncomfortable being seen without polishing yourself first, what does that say about how you feel in your own skin?
Personally, I don’t think I create who I am online deliberately. But I do know when I shift. My blogging voice on a professional site sounds more rational, more LinkedIn-appropriate. On my creative blog, I get poetic, sometimes contemplative, or even downright ranty. And on social media, I have the rawest version of my brain, often quarter-life crisis and caffeine-high versions of me running rampant on my feed. That’s where I prefer to be the most authentic, and unfiltered version of me.
So is it really editing, or just adapting?
If I have to be honest, it’s both.
Why Are We All in the Spotlight Now?
There was a time when only public figures had to think about how they were perceived. Now, all of us are leaving behind digital footprints. We each have a ‘personal brand’ — even if we never aimed to create one. Whether you’re a student, a reader, an artist, or someone who prefers to stay in the background, someone is forming their opinions based on what you share online and how you show up.
There’s no denying that being seen can feel good — at least until it doesn’t.
Because once people start noticing you — maybe for a witty post, a viral reel, or just a really aesthetic feed — you can’t just disappear without feeling guilty. Suddenly, you’re expected to keep showing up.
That expectation can start to feel heavy.
It can change how you relate to creativity, identity, and even your sense of self-worth.
You start overthinking captions like they’re going to change someone’s life. You rewrite tweets so many times they stop sounding like you. You check your story views and post likes like they actually mean something about your worth. You feel guilty for taking a break from social media, even when you know you need it.
The line between personal expression and perception anxiety seems to blur a little more each day.
We Often Confuse Public Image With Public Self
But let’s get one thing clear: you can show up consistently and still not feel fully seen. Because what’s being seen is an extension of you — and not always the complete you.
There’s also this weird contradiction where we’re told to be real, to be vulnerable, to just be ourselves. But at the same time, not too real. Not too vulnerable. Not too messy. Not too inconsistent. Not too loud. Not too silent, either. There are just too many variables for the sweet spot of the perfect public image.
So you end up trying to be polished, but not fake. Smart, but not arrogant. Relatable, but not cringe. Visible, but not desperate for attention.
It can start feeling like a game where no matter what you do, the rules always keeps shifting.
So is Personal Branding Empowerment, or Just Another Cage?
Personal branding is often demonstrated as a form of self-empowerment — a way to control your own narrative. Right?
But let’s not forget that brands aren’t people. They’re systems, and frameworks. And they’re structured. They’re also purpose driven. With a vision and a mission statement. They’re not humans, and hence… they’re safe.
People aren’t like that.
So while it’s true that shaping how we’re perceived can feel empowering, it can also turn into a trap — a set of expectations we build for ourselves and then struggle to escape.
Because what if your opinions change?
What if your personal vibe changes?
What if you grow out of your current mindset — whether for right or for wrong?
Will your audience let you?
Will you let yourself?
Here’s What I Know.
I overthink. A lot. Especially before posting something with emotional value or a strong opinion. Not because I’m scared of being wrong — but because I’m scared of being unnecessarily harmful to somebody else’s sentiments. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I don’t want to be misunderstood. I want to be thoughtful. I want to give space for other’s opinions too. And that takes time. A lot of time.
But here’s one more thing I know: I don’t feel drained by being seen. I actually like showing up, especially when I get to be my messy, rambling, sometimes philosophical but sometimes ignorant self. And I want to believe the people who stick around are here for that version of me, not some polished version I could pretend to be.
I’ve made peace with the fact that I’ll never have a perfect online presence. Some posts will hardly be seen. Some thoughts will definitely evolve. Some days, I’ll just disappear.
But I also know this: You are allowed to show up unfinished, and in progress.
Because if we’re going to keep being seen, let’s at least try being real.
