Reflections on masking-adapting yourself to fit in with cultural norms or expectations 

I’ve been thinking a lot about masking-changing your behavior to fit in-and realizing that I’ve been doing it longer than I thought I had, mostly without making a conscious decision to do it.
Even writing this post and making the video involved a meta-process of (over-)analyzing what I want to say and how it might come across, and redoing each several times. My brain’s exhausted.
The ability to adapt (intentionally) to culturally/contextually accepted behavioral norms is a privilege that not everyone has. It’s still, though, a defense mechanism. A coping strategy that costs a lot.
It also feels like a privilege-of life stage? of self-employment?-to be able to peel (at least some of) the layers back and stop hiding. It shouldn’t be. It should be an inalienable right of every human.
How can we create more spaces where authenticity is not only welcomed but is the default setting?
I’d love your thoughts.
#masking #preventingburnout #leadingwithempathy