Tree and Shadow

Lincoln said that character is like a tree and reputation is like its shadow. The shadow is what you might think to be true while the tree is the reality. Do you give too great an importance to what others think of you? Are you afraid of being criticized and, therefore, try to adapt your ideas and behavior to the “flow”? But the opinion of others about you has nothing to do with what you really are. Your true essence is personal, original, free and independent from anybody’s opinion. You are “the tree”. Don’t allow your branches to be identified with the shadow they cast on the ground.