All that admiration we feel for someone doesn’t come out of nowhere. What we see in others doesn’t always belong to them. Many times we are projecting. We assign others qualities that are actually our own, even if we haven’t yet recognized them. That doesn’t mean the other person isn’t valuable, but what we value may not be external, it might already be part of us.

Projection isn’t a mistake, it’s a way to discover ourselves. What matters is not staying stuck in the illusion that the beauty is outside. If something moves us, if something inspires us, it’s because it already exists within us. Admiration is fine, but self-recognition is the missing step.