“It’s just hair,” my wife insisted. She couldn’t understand why I was paralyzed with indecision when the cut was something I clearly wanted. But it wasn’t just hair; it was a landmark decision. It called upon my past, put me on the stand, and highlighted many trials where I settled instead of taking risks. This decision was tied up in years of caring too much about the opinion of others. What’s worse, it stoked my anxiety and depression. After decades of self-loathing, I worried that, if this went wrong, I could find another level of hatred for my reflection.

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