Jul 02 2024 42 mins
Wanting attention is part of our social nature as humans. However, for many, especially women, it has become tied to our sense of worth. How much attention we get, how much we want, whether we deserve it, and what we do with it when we have it become markers of our morality and class, subject to others' judgment.
Recently, I’ve been trying to observe my need for attention without judgment. I’ve noticed it functions like a social battery that ebbs and flows. Instead of judging this need, perhaps it’s better to monitor it.
I find that when I crave more attention, it often coincides with feelings of loneliness or a desire to express something important. Unfortunately, wanting attention has been demonized with labels like "attention seeker" or "egoic." We've tied people's worth to their desire for attention, despite it being a natural human mechanism for facilitating diverse interactions. Instead of developing this social skill, we have shamed people into viewing it as a taboo.