Research suggests that not being like one's feared self may be more important for psychological health than being like one's ideal self.

Question

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Research has shown that individuals who feel they are not living up to their "feared self" (i.e. traits they want to avoid) experience greater levels of distress and lower levels of well-being than those who are not resembling their "ideal self" (i.e. traits they want to possess). In other words, living up to one's feared self is more damaging to psychological health than not living up to one's ideal self.

Research Suggests That Not Being Like One's Feared Self May