“Never regret anything that made you smile.” – Mark Twain “Every moment is a fresh beginning.” – T.S Eliot “Everything you can imagine is real.” – Pablo Picasso “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer “The manifesto of the dealmaker is simple: Reality is negotiable.” – Tim Ferriss “Imagination is everything.” “If we have the attitude that it’s going to be a great day, it usually is.” —Catherine Pulsifier “You can either experience the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” “Impossible is just an opinion.” —Paulo Coelho “Your passion is waiting for your courage to catch up.” —Isabelle Lafleche “Magic is believing in yourself.”12
We, the "Hello World People," confess our truths — about ourselves, our limitations, and the reasons why we sometimes feel like strangers in our own lives.
We tend to live on the surface. Just as a "Hello, World!" program merely introduces a programming language without diving into its complexities, we keep our interactions and thoughts straightforward, familiar, and unchallenged. We know the basics, but we rarely venture deeper.
We’re comfortable with simple answers because they don’t require us to question too much or feel uncomfortable. Complexity scares us. Delving into who we are — really who we are — might uncover things we’re not ready to face. So, we keep it simple and avoid the layers.
Often, we define ourselves based on what others see in us. We seek approval, comments, and validation to shape our sense of self. Our identities can feel like they’re built on a patchwork of external opinions, and when those opinions fade, we sometimes wonder if there’s anything left of ourselves.
We follow routines, often unthinking, and act out roles society expects of us. We’re the workers, the students, the family members, and we play these roles well. But deep down, we don’t always know if they reflect who we are or if we’re just running on scripts handed to us by others.
It’s easier to say “I’m an introvert” or “I’m a go-getter” than to unpack what really drives us. Labels feel secure, a simple box we can fit into and show to the world. But we know that labels don’t capture our full selves; they’re just a convenient shortcut we cling to instead of discovering the truth.
Looking within means facing vulnerabilities, insecurities, and fears. It’s uncomfortable, and we don’t always know if we have the tools or strength to confront what lies beneath the surface. So we stay “hello world” people, because it’s safer and doesn’t expose us to pain or uncertainty.
Because we’ve lived with ourselves for years, we assume we know ourselves. But we realize that this is often a comforting illusion. Familiarity doesn’t equal understanding. Just because we’ve had the same thoughts or behaviors for years doesn’t mean we actually understand why we are this way.
Our sense of self is often tied to our roles: the job we do, the relationships we have, the image we project. We know how to be a “good worker” or a “friend,” but these roles are layers on top of our true selves. When we stop and ask who we are without these roles, we feel adrift.
In a world where quick-fix solutions and sound bites dominate, we stick to the shallow end. Deep self-knowledge takes effort, patience, and time. But we often want fast answers and immediate certainty, even if it means skimming the surface of our potential.
Deep down, we’re scared. Scared that self-discovery might reveal things we don’t like. That we may not be as confident, kind, or certain as we think we are. There’s comfort in sticking to a "hello world" level of self-awareness because it keeps these fears at bay.
In Closing:
We confess to living as “hello world” people, knowing that we’re often strangers to our own depths. But perhaps this confession is a step forward. A step toward curiosity, courage, and the willingness to peel back the layers, even if it’s uncomfortable. Because we know that true understanding lies beyond “Hello, World!” — if only we dare to look.