In China, there is a common but rarely seriously discussed phenomenon: many people have been accustomed since childhood to "hold back" in their actions—not daring to speak too much, not wanting to stand out, and feeling nervous when noticed by others. This state is often packaged as "introverted" or "reserved," but when viewed within a broader cultural context, it may not be an advantage; instead, it is often the result of long-term self-repression. This repression usually stems from authority-driven environments during growth. In some families or educational settings, there is limited space for explanation and expression, and emotions are not allowed to be freely displayed. Over time, people gradually lose the ability to defend themselves and may even develop anxiety about "expressing oneself." To avoid conflict or negation, they can only choose to shrink back and avoid, trying to be as "unnoticeable" as possible.

This mentality manifests externally in many subtle but consistent physical and behavioral patterns, such as subconsciously shrugging shoulders, bending over, lowering the voice, avoiding eye contact, and even instinctively withdrawing when facing a camera or public attention. These are not just habits but a long-developed defense mechanism. In contrast, some people grow up in more relaxed environments, where they are more likely to appear relaxed, curious, or even proactively engaged when facing the outside world. The difference is not in personality itself but in whether they have experienced ongoing repression and negation.

Therefore, an important shift involves re-establishing a basic sense of safety: recognizing that one can express oneself, be seen, reason, and has the right to maintain clear boundaries. When a person no longer defaults to "their existence is a problem," but gradually affirms that "their existence itself is reasonable," many of the tense states will slowly loosen, and they will truly begin to exist in a more complete way.