One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made, and I see many make too, is the need to seek out an authority - a belief, framework, institution, professional title, person, or AI to scaffold decision making. When one authority loses value or is proven a false idol, then I’ve sought to fill the void with another.

At some point, I’ve had to stop and learn to trust what I’ve come to learn about the world and drivers of human behaviour by drawing on my own authority.

As a recently scapegoated and institutionally ousted person, I’ve had the discomfort of sitting with the idea that I have no community, no powerful affiliations - nothing to lean on but the products of my own effort. Of course I have many supportive and encouraging people. But that’s not the same as having the backing of a legitimising body or an influential public figure.

And I’m ok with that.

Learning to discern true from false authority is one the most useful gifts of this life.