Take Off Your Mask: Embracing Authenticity and Self-acceptance in Midlife.

Life after Kids with Drs. Brooke and Lynne

Most women, even at our age, would get an A+ in people pleasing. Would you agree?

After all of these years, and all of our life experience, many of us want to be accepted and feel connected so badly that we hide our true selves or attempt to be something that we aren’t. In this episode of The Life after Kids Podcast, we’re discussing the masks that women often wear and the personas we present to the world. We explore the reasons behind these masks, such as the fear of rejection, and we share our personal experiences with wearing masks and feeling unseen or rejected. In this episode, you’ll get practical tips for taking off the mask, such as starting slowly, communicating with loved ones, and doing self-work to discover your true self.

Key Takeaways:

• Wearing masks prevents true connection and authenticity.
• The fear of rejection often leads women to put forth a perfect facade.
• Removing masks requires self-acceptance and self-love.
• Start slowly and begin by showing your true self to people on the fringe.
• Communicate with loved ones about your desire to be more authentic.
• Self-work is essential for discovering and embracing your true self.

Even in midlife, the fear of rejection and the pressure to be perfect is real, and often leads to not showing our true selves. However, if we want better friendships, more meaningful connections, and a fulfilling Life after Kids, we must learn to remove the masks we wear, and we must start being true to ourselves, even if it means facing potential rejection. The saddest thing would be to leave this world without ever letting people know how we really are. Now more than ever, it’s crucial to embrace authenticity and self-acceptance. Learn more about removing the masks we wear by watching Episode 16 of The Life after Kids Podcast.

For an even deep dive in getting to know yourself and your purpose better now that the kids are grown, check out the LIFE AFTER KIDS GROUP COACHING mentioned in today's episode.

Timestamp Summary
| 0:00:00 | Introduction to the topic of masks and personas
| 0:00:35 | Discussion on feeling rejected due to wearing masks
| 0:01:24 | Importance of showing one's true self and accepting imperfections
| 0:02:39 | Impact of childhood messages on perfectionism
| 0:03:57 | Importance of self-acceptance and self-love
| 0:05:35 | The value of having at least one person who accepts the true self
| 0:07:15 | The need to work on self-acceptance and self-love
| 0:09:11 | Starting slowly and being mindful of how others may react
| 0:11:30 | The fear of rejection and the importance of embracing it
| 0:15:23 | The need for self-work and seeking support if necessary

Enjoy the show, and we hope you learn a little bit more about living a fulfilling, vibrant, and meaningful Life after Kids!

If you like what you hear please rate and review the podcast, hit subscribe, and pass it along to a friend.

Making tomorrow even better than today,

Dr. Brooke and Dr. Lynne

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