{"id":2756,"date":"2026-10-04T06:00:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T02:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sureshdinakaran.com\/blog\/?p=2756"},"modified":"2026-10-04T06:35:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T02:35:54","slug":"the-new-spine-aspiration-and-avoidance-in-the-kingdom-of-vanity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sureshdinakaran.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/04\/the-new-spine-aspiration-and-avoidance-in-the-kingdom-of-vanity\/","title":{"rendered":"Aspiration and Avoidance in the Kingdom of Vanity!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Picture this. Two people buy an expensive pair of the same sneakers. One is seeking a better version of herself. The other one is running away from a worse one. You can’t tell neither of them apart. Well, even they can’t.<\/p>\n

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Vanity<\/em><\/span> is a twin engine propeller. Aspiration<\/em><\/span> pulls us toward who we could be. Avoidance<\/em><\/span> pushes us away from who we fear being seen as. Most of us can’t tell which one is flying the plane. After all, we are mortals.<\/p>\n

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The Kingdom of Vanity<\/span><\/em><\/strong> has two entrances:<\/p>\n

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Aspiration<\/em><\/span>: I want to become. Avoidance:<\/em><\/span> I don’t want to be found out.<\/p>\n

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Most of us walk through the wrong entrance, smiling.<\/p>\n

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Aspiration<\/em><\/span> gives us the north star<\/em>. Turns taste into growth<\/em>. Where you sub-consciously raise the bar.<\/em> And becomes contagious in a good way<\/em>. That said, the horizon keeps moving. You are always playing catch up. It is not a final destination. It can turn into performance without progress<\/em>, with the look of growth and none of the work.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Avoidance<\/em><\/span> is like a bodyguard<\/em>. Takes care of you on a hard day. The fake-it-till-you-make-it<\/em> also buys you some extra time to build till the real confidence catches up. Notwithstanding this, the treadmill<\/em> is on incessantly. It hides the real work<\/em> and shrinks you<\/em> as we chase the safest version of ourselves not the truest version. It’s the favourite engine of marketing,<\/em> which turns insecurity into a subscription.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Brands have known this for decades. They sell the dream, but they profit from the dread.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Let’s catch up on a few real life moments and see how both of them turn up.<\/p>\n

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Gym Selfie<\/em><\/span>: Aspiration says “Look how far I’ve come.” Avoidance says “Look, I’m not letting myself go.”<\/p>\n

Skincare shelf<\/em><\/span>: Aspiration says “I’m proud of this milestone.” Avoidance says “I can’t be seen like this.”<\/p>\n

AI headshot<\/em><\/span>: Aspiration says ” Best version of me “. Avoidance says “Not the tired version.”<\/p>\n

Not posting on social media at all:<\/em><\/span> Aspiration says “I’m secure in myself.” Avoidance says “I’m afraid of being judged.”<\/p>\n

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You would have noticed the twist in the last one. Even modesty can be avoidance.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Vanity<\/span> is a compass if you let aspiration<\/span> steer, and a hiding place if you let avoidance<\/span> drive.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Be vain enough to want more, brave enough to be seen as you are now.<\/p>\n

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PS:<\/em><\/strong> On a completely different note, pleasure to share that ISD Global<\/em><\/strong><\/a> has introduced three new products viz the Strategic Foresight Almanac<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, BrandKnow<\/em><\/strong><\/a> and BrandKnew<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.They are available for review and purchase on these links below:-<\/p>\n

BrandKnow<\/em><\/strong> https:\/\/www.magzter.com\/AE\/ISD-Global\/BrandKnow\/Business\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The Strategic Foresight Almanac<\/em><\/strong> https:\/\/www.magzter.com\/AE\/ISD-Global\/The-Strategic-Foresight-Almanac\/Business\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

BrandKnew<\/em><\/strong><\/a> :<\/em><\/strong> https:\/\/www.magzter.com\/IN\/ISD-Global\/BrandKnew-Magazine\/Business\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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You can access the September Edition of BrandKnew here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

I am also taking the liberty to share here that my other blog SOHB(State Of The Heart Branding) Story<\/em><\/strong><\/a> is now a Podcast<\/em><\/strong> as well. <\/em>You can access it on these links below:-<\/p>\n

Daily Hunt<\/em><\/strong>: https:\/\/bz.dhunt.in\/148BKr<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n