“Cool” chasing anxiety. The social pressure to be trendy, popular, “cool,” and accepted by the “in” crowd. For years, I chased “coolness,” trying to fit in, mimic trends, and gain social approval. Exhausting, inauthentic, and ultimately, unfulfilling. Then, I decided to stop caring about “cool.” To ditch the chase, embrace my own preferences, and stop seeking external validation.
My strategy wasn’t about becoming deliberately “uncool,” but about prioritizing authenticity over external approval. I stopped following trends I didn’t genuinely like, started pursuing my own interests, and stopped worrying about what others thought of my choices. Ditching the “cool” chase liberated me from social pressure and allowed me to embrace my true self, authentically and unapologetically. “Cool” chasing anxiety faded away, replaced by a newfound freedom to be myself and find genuine connection based on authenticity, not manufactured “coolness.” Stop chasing “cool.” Embrace authenticity. True connection comes from being yourself, not from trying to be someone else’s idea of “cool.”