#the authenticity project

[cortlandkaard]

by the way shameless promotion but Read This Book! it's great :3

[desdasiwrites]

– Clare Pooley, The Authenticity Project

[embookreviews]

The Authenticity Project

Clare Pooley

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (5/5)

Clare Pooley writes books for lonely people. each time i’ve read one of her books (so twice), i’ve found myself yearning for the friendships found in the book. sure, they’re twisted and messy and sometimes the relationships between people suck. but also, they all find each other and work it out in the end. i’m a pooley fan for life, both this and rules for commuting felt like they poked at a little hole in my life i didn’t know was there. that desire to find a group of strangers that i just….fit with.

also! i loved the little twist this book took, though i never felt the same about the character afterwards (so vague but i don’t want to spoil anything!! unless you’re like roy from the it crowd and even knowing there’s a twist is devastating information)

[fortbooks]

The Authenticity Project, A Novel by Clare Pooley

Okay, here's the thing. It's been close to a month since I finished reading this book and I never got around to writing about it because I got busy. Pass-out-in-bed-by-10-pm busy. But I did like this book…enough.

I like the premise. That I can say without quantifying anything. I like the premise: of leaving a notebook with your innermost "truth" with the hope that the next person will continue it. I like the idea of people touching other people's lives and changing it.

There's a reason why, for the longest time, my life motto was the whole "For Good" song from Wicked. Because people I met might not have changed me for the better, but they sure as hell changed me for good. And I like that. It takes the pressure off in being a good example, of always having to check yourself that you're not setting a bad precedent. Because none of us is perfect. And, for the most part, this book tackles that idea head on.

I just did not like some of the decisions the author made along the way…but that's a me-problem, and not an author-problem. My biggest problem was telegraphed pretty early by the book. The eventual love story between two characters who, if I'm going to be very honest with you: had no business being a couple. But the seeds were planted. And they were planted well. I just did not like the seeds. Or the fruit. But I can honestly that it doesn't make the book less enjoyable for me.

Well, maybe a little bit.

One character I did like kind of got the short-end of the stick. And with a book that had changing POVs, it was definitely a choice not to let us in on how this character went from emotion A to emotion B seemingly overnight. (It was a fortnight, at least, within the book's timeline. But it was a single chapter from my perspective.) Basically: I felt like the book was rushing its ending. And the repercussions of one character's actions didn't get explored before we moved on to the ending.

And then there's the ending.

Look, I get it. Life doesn't really just end and that's it. But I felt like it was a bold choice to wrap one character's journey in a very poignant note--and then introduce a new character just to keep the initial premise going. Again, this doesn't really detract from the book being an enjoyable read. But this last chapter felt very tacked on. As if the publisher asked the writer: is there a way of leaving it open-ended enough for a possible sequel? I feel like taking this last chapter out would've made the ending more powerful.

But that's just me.

And I think I've rambled on enough about this book that I read almost one month ago.

Do I recommend it? I guess, yes. It's good. There are just some stuff in it that I wish were better.

[wombywoo]

Another craft update:

I added all the framed artwork to the wall, cheated and bought some chairs for the table (though I did stain them 👍), and made a rug and blanket for the loft:

(I'll fully set the table when it's done) also need to make a ladder..🤔

Currently crafting a little wood burning stove:

we'll see if I can add a light effect......

Here are more gratuitous shots of the boys getting up to shenanigans:

[vaspider]

Yeah it's really dark and potato video but I haven't scammed anyone for a $7K video camera so y'all are just stuck with some dyke's Original Thoughts, Badly Recorded.

[leonamelody047]

Who are you, beyond the needle and thread they used to make you? Is there a you beyond that? Do you want there to be?

[swordmaid]

anyway shri’iia’s epilogue outfit which is a mix of 1900s male stage costumes and also that one camp outfit mod. look at the ring hehe 🤭

[jesncin]

Part of me thinks that under WarnerMedia while My Adventures with Superman got greenlit in 2021, some of these decisions could either feel self-insert like with Mindy Kaling’s Velma or a mandated checkbox fulfillment to suit corporate desires. It can explain why they wanted Lois Lane to be a more prominent character to fit current narratives and trends. I’m all in for well written characters, but it needs to be done in a way where it makes sense. Here’s too hope James Gunn handles her well with the same craft as with Richard Donner and Bruce Timm’s iterations.

so I heavily disagree with this and I'm spider-sensing some uncomfortable dogwhistles here. What do Kaling's Velma and MAWS even have in common? MAWS' marketing didn't push a titular celebrity to the extent Velma did. Any reason you've decided to compare two shows on the basis that both have prominent women of color in the lead? Velma's an adult comedy mystery while MAWS is an action adventure with a heavy focus on romance (it may be on Adult Swim, but it was never intended for an adult audience. That was corporate shenanigans). Saying they're catching some sort of trend to follow Velma is pretty ignorant of how difficult it is to pitch an action animated kids show with a woman in the lead. Entirely different markets and genres. And from what I've heard, the MAWS crew mention they had surprisingly little executive restraints which allowed them to go out of the box with their takes.

Also Lois being prominent or the lead of a Superman adaptation is not new or a trend. "Lois & Clark", "Superman & Lois", even one off animated movies like Reign of Supermen had Lois as the POV lead or heavily involved. She has led many comics on her own. I don't love this insinuation that her being racebent is a "trend"- especially when the MAWS crew mention American Alien as their source of reference for their version of Lois and Jimmy.

"I'm all for well written characters, but it needs to be done in a way where it makes sense". I don't know what you mean by this. 1. there are no well written characters in the entirety of MAWS, and 2. What needs justifying to you? Aren't well written characters self justified by being well written? Is there something about a WOC in the lead that is threatening your suspension of disbelief? Because boy have I heard that tons of times before.

I get that film and tv adaptation heavily influences popular perception of a character, but why do we place our hopes on these white guys to do justice on a character like Lois of all people. This dismisses the many women and other talented creatives who got to work on Lois in the comics. Like why zero in on MAWS Lois being a "self insert"? I don't like to auteur-ify a collaborative medium like an animated series, but MAWS was pitched by Jake Wyatt. He's the showrunner. Lois is Asian in his pitch packet. How is that a self insert? If anything, I wish an Asian creative put more of their life experiences onto Lois because then she wouldn't feel like someone so interchangeable with a white woman. And misogynisticly written.

Just kind of weird to ask this to us, the chindo authors who made a fancomic about Lois being chindo, informed by our lived experiences as chindos. That's arguably as self insert as it gets. While I'm interested in James Gunn's take on the Superman mythos, I'm not getting my hopes up on a pre-dominantly white cast and no current narrative emphasis on committing to Superman as an immigrant. Also I didn't suffer through Guardians 2's take on Mantis just to hold this white guy up as the pinnacle on writing women.

[teddybasmanov]

I hate the 'you work so hard' type of comfort audios. I don't work 'so hard', I definitely don't work hard - I barely work at all.

[florsial]

💌🕊️

What are your thoughts on the popular trend of "do you think we'll be [insert dynamic] in every/other universe/s?" but this time it's Sirius asking Regulus.

What would Reg say? How would Sirius ask it? Why would he ask it?

I’m so mad at myself I had like a whole essay and it WAS DELETED 😭😭 also sorry for the messy format!!

Anyways, I don’t think this type of interaction would ever occur face to face. I think this would only happen post Regulus death. Like Book 5 of Harry Potter when Sirius is stuck in Grimmauld. When Sirius would inevitably stumble upon a portrait of Regulus and finds himself asking “Do you think we would be brothers in every universe?” But in a way more so asking if there is a universe where they are both alive, happy, and together. I don’t think Sirius would ever doubt him and Regulus being family in every universe, it’s jsut a matter of can they be the family they choose in any universe. (Which I have a whole other thought about lol)

He’s asking because if Regulus can’t be in the family Sirius chose for himself in this universe, is there another Regulus can be?

I can’t see this type of interaction happening directly for some reason. Maybe because the question would be meant differently if Sirius directly asked Regulus? But Regulus being dead is such a vital part of why Sirius is asking the question in the first place in my head.

For Regulus’ answer (not like he would ever actually be able to answer it if I’m going along prev paragraphs), either way, is going to be yes.

Regulus will always hold out hope that he can be by Sirius side. Even in the canon universe. I’ve always believed that Regulus retains this possessiveness over Sirius that never fully went away. I mean, that’s his older brother, the person who probably raised him in an environment as hostile as Grimmauld, and the one person Regulus probably felt as if was the only person who truly loved him!! I don’t think Regulus ever fully made peace with not having Sirius in his life! Even after Sirius runs away, they still would’ve seen each in school! In the great hall, hallways, and probably in the quidditch pitch. Regulus had the knowledge that his brother was on the same campus him at all times.

Which makes it even more interesting when you remember he dies at around 17-18 years old, the age he would’ve been in his last year of Hogwarts after Sirius graduates!! Hogwarts is their last connection!! I don’t think Regulus ever fully processed not having Sirius in his life! So yes! He would always answer yes, they would be brothers in every universe, BECAUSE THEY ARE IN HIS HEARTTT!!!!

IM STILL MAD ABOUT THE FACT THAT TUMBLR DELETED MY PREVIOUS ANSWER UGHHHHHH

[scarletfasinera]

Had an opportunity to talk about my goal to read The Anatomy of Melancholy in 2025 with my best friend's brother & his girlfriend. She's a literature teacher, so she recognized it and seemed really impressed by the goal. She's was like "Wow! Isn't it like 1500 pages? That's a really good goal for the year, please keep me updated on your progress!" and when I got really serious and said "I'm GOING to read it entirely. It's my White Whale." she laughed & started clapping & nodding at me.

[logically-illogical-2me]

Marahuyo Project first episode was really good. But what did I expect, It's a queer story directed, written, produced, and acted by queer people.

[tryingtimi]

@the-wip-project Day 1: 698

Alright, the first day is here, and motivation hit an hour before bed, so that means I couldn't reach 1k. But, I got to more than half of it! And I also have a somewhat clear picture of the chapter I'm writing, so it's going to come a little bit easier tomorrow. Plus, I've edited my outline because I solved a little problem in the plot, and taken out a character that turned out just to be there for no reason, lol.

Hope today goes well for y'all!

[brbgensokyo]

ive floated back around to it but miku really is a fascinating case study on star power and the struggle authenticity bc most of producers using her voice are bedroom artists writing and composing as a hobby that would probably wouldn't get the time of day if the consumer wasn't so invested in the brand of Miku

[timeless-clarity]

People Are Always Confessing Their Secrets

Uncovering Hidden Truths: Carl Jung's Work and How People Often Unconsciously Share Their Deepest Personal Truths Mistaking them for Universal Truths

Have you ever noticed someone react strangely to something you’ve said - maybe a twinge of discomfort, a sudden change in tone, or an awkward laugh? These moments can catch us off guard, but they often point to something deeper. Words have the power to resonate in ways beyond their surface meaning, striking chords in the nervous system of the person who receives them - revealing emotions or memories which can bleed into a perfectly normal and neutral conversation. I recently returned to The Essential Jung: Selected Writings Introduced by Anthony Storr. This was the very first of Carl Jung’s books I read around seven years ago. Since becoming a certified practitioner in holistic emotional wellness, I felt called to revisit Jung’s work. I wanted to explore this book again with fresh eyes - annotating it to the hilt. In the chapter which touches on Jung’s early works he discusses his work with word association tests. Within his classic test Jung would repeat around 100 universally well-known words. Asking participants to respond with the first word that came to their mind, as quickly as possible. He used a stopwatch to record the timing of each response, noted the specific word given, and observed any visible signs of disturbance in the person being tested. By repeating the entire test multiple times, Jung aimed to deepen his exploration into the subtle, unconscious responses triggered by these seemingly simple words. From the findings gathered through these tests, Jung was able to uncover emotional patterns and, most intriguingly, the aspects of themselves that participants wished to conceal. He often used these tests with criminals, aiming to elicit confessions indirectly - and it worked. The seemingly neutral process of associating words revealed hidden truths, exposing the unconscious layered dynamics that shaped their thoughts and behaviours. Because of course, a lack of a response was just as incriminating as any response that they could have given.

Unconscious confessions

One striking example Jung shares in the book reveals just how profound these tests were in uncovering hidden truths. During one such test, Jung discovered that the participant had been involved in a drunken altercation, where he had stabbed another person with a knife - a crime that led to a year in prison. Despite the man’s belief that he had buried this shameful memory, it was revealed through the word association test. Words like 'knife,' 'pointed,' and 'bottle' caused significant delays in his responses, accompanied by subtle signs of discomfort. These reactions, seemingly minor at first glance, spoke volumes about a deeply suppressed event—an event the participant thought was well concealed. While I was reading this my mind was alerted to the many times that I’ve found myself in situations where I unintentionally uncover hidden truths, much like Jung did - not with criminals - but with people in my everyday life. Since becoming a practitioner who handles emotions of many different clients day to day, understanding that words hold different weight for different people. I have become highly a-tuned to the confessions people make outside of the therapeutic space, without realising they are confessing anything. This became particularly clear when I would be having conversations with friends and say something which I felt was reasonably neutral - and a friend would get defensive and ask me to explain my word choice. My response was often:

“What I said was not objectively offensive, I was just expressing myself”

A good example of this happened with a friend who would visibly react whenever I mentioned my desire for wealth in this lifetime. They’d quickly interrupt to remind me how equally valid and important the working class are. While their intentions were likely well-meaning, it felt tone-deaf, especially considering I grew up in one of the most impoverished areas of Scotland. Isn't it possible for the working class to dream of more for themselves, just as anyone else can? Why can't we all hold space for our individual dreams while also working towards a better collective future?

Does me sharing a vision that feels warm in my chest become something shameful to someone entrenched in their own dogma—or perhaps, deep financial struggles that are more about their personal emotional blocks than a reality I need to be 'educated' on? So, words such as wealth, money, and holidays - neutral and broad topics for many people - would all result in our conversations heading south.

What does this tell me?

It tells me that this person was deeply uncomfortable about what it means to have, use, and cultivate money. This person has built a beautiful life for themselves, and yet, within their own limitations, there are areas of life that are quite neutral and open to me (after lots of EFT Tapping about money!) that are a no-go for them. Those topics would put them in a bad mood and make me regret bringing the topic up, even though it’s worth noting that this person was raised with a huge amount of wealth. This person was repeatedly defending the working class to me - the actual so called working class within this dynamic - while completely missing the fact that I was living in that very reality, having grown up in one of the most impoverished areas of Scotland and against the odds, built a life for myself which has outlived the expectations most people would put on the resilient and resourceful people labeled the ‘working class’ by people who see themselves as ‘not that’. This brings me back to Jung’s word association tests, where even a seemingly neutral word can trigger unconscious reactions, just like my friend’s defensiveness whenever I mentioned wealth. Jung’s tests highlighted how people inadvertently "tell on themselves," exposing insecurities, emotional conflicts, and unresolved issues through their reactions, even if they aren’t aware of it. These seemingly innocent responses carry deeper truths about the individual, much like how my friend’s defensiveness was less about me and more about their own unaddressed feelings around money and wealth.

Universal Truth or Unconscious Projection?

Becoming an EFT practitioner within the world of emotional wellness has shown me just how much people’s reactions reveal about their inner world. In my work with clients, I’ve seen that the things people resist or react to most are often the very areas where they hold unresolved emotional blocks. Just as Jung discovered through his tests, we are constantly telling stories about ourselves, but often without realising it. These stories that we tell are not always as objective as we think, yet we present them as such - making them feel like universal truths when they’re actually deeply personal, unconscious narratives.

How does EFT Tapping come into it?

It’s important to mention that through the self-acceptance that EFT Tapping offers, we can move beyond shame and develop a deeper understanding of our inner world. With courageous self-acceptance and the willingness to engage with our unconscious mind, we can begin to interact with others more openly, free from unconscious projections. Conversations, like the one with my friend, become opportunities to look beyond the surface and see the stories we each carry. When we start paying attention, we can begin to recognise the unconscious limitations others live within - often without even realising it - and, in doing so, approach each interaction with more compassion and understanding, while also honouring our own limits and boundaries.

What do I do?

I’m an EFT Tapping Practitioner (Emotional Freedom Techniques). It’s my life’s work to help others get clear on the essence of who they are and what feels authentic for them. My goal is to support people in creating lives filled with emotional fulfilment, purpose, and joy.

If this resonates with you, you can find out more about my work or reach out through my website: claire-farrell.com

It's my honour to hold space as we explore the beliefs and barriers holding you back—making room for your most authentic self to thrive.

You can also find helpful Tapping videos and fun updates on my Tiktok: @clairefarrell__ Lots of love, Claire