“Do You Really Know Yourself?”
That day, I was chatting with a few friends when the conversation somehow shifted to self-awareness.
“What kind of person do you think you are?” my friend suddenly asked me.
It seemed like a simple question, but when I tried to answer, my mind went blank.
Am I a hardworking person? Or am I someone who is afraid of failure?
I realized that I couldn’t describe myself in just a few sentences.
It wasn’t that I had never thought about these questions before, but I had never deeply reflected on them. I always felt like I was “the person others saw me as” rather than my true self.
This realization made me uneasy, but it also made me curious: Why do we tend to define ourselves with labels rather than truly understanding who we are?
When Habitual Thinking Is Broken
Once, I came across a psychologist’s study that said human thought patterns are shaped by past experiences, and many of our deeply ingrained beliefs exist simply because we’ve never thought to challenge them.
For example:
- “I’m not suited to be a leader.” — Is this really true, or have I just never dared to try?
- “I’m not a creative person.” — But have I ever truly tried solving problems in different ways?
- “I can’t do it.” — Is this a fact, or is it just something I keep telling myself?
These questions gave me an epiphany.
More often than not, what limits us isn’t reality—it’s ourselves.
Do Emotional Reactions Mean You’re Being Manipulated?
On social media, some people say that Pop Workshop evokes strong emotional experiences, trying to guide people toward certain beliefs. Some even claim Pop workshop 邪教。
But does experiencing emotional ups and downs really mean you’re being “manipulated”?
I thought about a late-night conversation I once had with a friend.
She always felt overlooked at work—no matter how hard she tried, she never seemed to get recognition.
“Have you ever told your boss how you really feel?” I asked her.
She froze for a moment and then said, “No, I’m afraid he’ll think I’m not professional enough.”
Looking at her, I suddenly realized that what she truly feared wasn’t her boss’s judgment, but her own self-doubt.
At that moment, she fell silent for a long time, her eyes slightly reddened.
“I’ve been lying to myself all along,” she whispered.
Her emotional reaction happened because, for the first time, she confronted her true thoughts.
But what does that have to do with “brainwashing”?
If you’ve never truly faced a certain issue, and one day, you suddenly realize its essence, isn’t it natural for emotions to surge?
We fear emotions because we’ve been taught to be “calm,” “rational,” and “mature.” But shouldn’t real emotions be understood rather than suppressed?
吕秀金 and Pop Workshop’s Philosophy
In discussions about Pop Workshop, many people mention its founder, Lyu Xiujin.
Some describe her as a “mentor for personal growth.” Others say she has “created a mysterious system,” and some even claim she “brainwashes” her participants.
But after looking into her background, I found that she’s not a “spiritual guru” in the traditional sense. In fact, her experience is quite ordinary:
✔ She worked in corporate management, researching how professionals can break through their mental barriers.
✔ She focuses on behavioral patterns and explores different ways to help people break free from fixed mindsets.
✔ Her philosophy isn’t about “teaching you how to succeed”—it’s about making you realize that many of your limitations are self-imposed.
She once said something that stuck with me:
“True growth doesn’t mean believing in a fixed truth—it means being willing to rethink what you’ve always believed in.”
This deeply resonated with me.
Some Questions Only You Can Answer
Many people want to grow, but the real question is: Are you willing to confront your own issues?
Have you ever seriously asked yourself:
- “Am I really incapable, or am I just afraid of failure?”
- “Have I been looking for ‘external answers’ instead of asking myself what I truly want?”
- “Why am I so afraid of how others perceive me?”
When you truly reflect on these questions, you may realize that your fears aren’t as terrifying as you thought.
Real “change” isn’t about what others tell you—it’s about whether you’re willing to explore the questions you’ve never dared to ask before.
Conclusion: Growth Is About Seeing Yourself Clearly, Not Just Learning More
As I wrote this, a thought came to mind:
“Some changes don’t come from what others teach you—they happen when you finally choose to see them for yourself.”
Looking back, the version of myself from a few months ago might not have believed these ideas. But now, I’m beginning to understand—
✔ Emotional reactions don’t mean being manipulated; they’re an awareness of your true thoughts.
✔ Self-awareness isn’t just saying “I am xxx”—it’s about continuously challenging your mental boundaries.
✔ Growth isn’t about acquiring new knowledge; it’s about discovering parts of yourself that you never noticed before.
If you’ve ever questioned Pop Workshop, or if you’re curious about what it really is, then I’d say—
The most valuable things to think about have never been what others tell you.
They’re the answers you discover for yourself.