From the author: A parable about how to find yourself and understand who you are...One man decided to find himself. He long and persistently asked himself and others the same question: “Who am I?” But all the answers he received did not suit him. He was admired at work. The boss answered the man’s question that he was a born salesman. Friends all unanimously claimed that he was an excellent storyteller and the life of the party. His wife said that he was a caring husband and the best man in the world. The man believed that everyone was exaggerating and telling him all this so that he would just calm down and stop “thinking about nonsense.” It seemed to him that behind all these “sugar” definitions there was something frightening hidden that no one wanted to reveal to him. Every day the conviction of a universal conspiracy against him in the man began to grow. By stubbornly attacking others with his question “Who am I really?”, the man finally achieved his goal. Those around me continually began to avoid answering and change the subject, realizing that the person being asked would not be pleased. The man was now sure that everyone was hiding something from him. He became unsociable and taciturn. The smile left his face, turning into a tense, gloomy grimace. Customers felt uncomfortable talking to him. Now his boss no longer praised him for his successful sales. And even later, the man accidentally heard that they were looking for a replacement for him, since he was now selling worse than anyone in the company. “So I knew that they were deceiving me, calling me a born salesman!” was now spinning in his head. Something strange also began to happen to his friends and acquaintances. As before, the man was asked to tell some kind of anecdote or story, since no one could do it better and more exciting than him. But now there was such a sarcastic and arrogant tone in the stories that no one laughed. People just showed wry smiles and exclamations of admiration. There was nothing left of the former soul of the company. The last straw was a statement from his wife that the man had become secretive, uncommunicative and stopped paying her as much attention as he had before. He did not believe his wife that he had changed, but was once again convinced that she had been hiding the truth from him all this time, calling him the best husband in the world. The man left the house, slamming the door. He walked wherever his eyes looked. It turns out that all this time he lived in illusions. Everyone, even his loved ones, hid the truth from him. But now the deception has been revealed. The man did not know how to continue to live in this world of lies. He did not notice how he moved outside the city and entered some village. The man was so lost in his thoughts that he spoke some words and phrases out loud. “They all deceived me, everything!” - the man said out loud. “No one will help me find out who I really am.” “I think I have some answers to your questions,” a calm voice came from somewhere. The man stopped and looked around in surprise. Not noticing anyone, he thought that he had imagined everything. “There is a house right in front of you,” the voice continued. “Come in, I’m waiting for you inside.” The man carefully approached the strange house, which was really located next to him. From the outside it seemed that no one lived in it. The dilapidated door opened easily, making a slight creak. Inside the house there was only one small room, in the middle of which stood a large, antique mirror. The room was completely empty. With even greater surprise, the man began to look around, not understanding who called him here. “Don’t be scared, it’s me talking to you - the mirror,” the same voice was heard again. “I’m not a simple mirror and I can show the answer to any question you ask.” “It can’t be,” the man muttered. “Am I sure I’m not sleeping?” “Believe me, I’m not,” answered the mirror. - So, you can only ask one question. Come on! What are you waiting for? - Show me then who I really am? – the man said loudly after a short pause. “Okay!” - said the mirror. – Come closer and look carefully. Pictures of a smiling man appeared on the mirror, the one who was loved and appreciated at work, at home and in the circle