Purge the Personas 🎭
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." — Oscar Wilde
"The personas we adopt often come from survival, but survival doesn't have to define you. Release the roles that no longer serve your growth."
There was a time when I found myself constantly wearing different masks to fit into various environments. At work, with friends, even at home—I would hide.
Smiling. Nodding. Playing the part.
Each persona felt like armor, a shield against judgment, rejection, or worse.
Then one night, I cracked. After a long day of keeping up appearances, I collapsed into my favorite corner. Soft candlelight flickered around me. Quiet. Still. And empty.
That’s when it hit me.
The masks, the roles, the constant shifting—they weren’t protecting me. They were pulling me further and further from myself. The person beneath it all was drowning.
Here’s the truth…
Those roles may have once helped us survive. But they don’t have to define us now.
So today, try this. Take a minute. Name one mask you’re still wearing. Maybe it’s “the strong one.” Maybe it’s “the peacekeeper.” Whatever it is, sit with it. Acknowledge where it came from.
Then, gently, let it go.
Replace it with something real.
Share a thought you’ve been hiding. Do something small that feels like you. Pick up a passion you’ve shelved for too long. Start showing up as the person behind the mask. The real one. The one worth seeing.
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." — Oscar Wilde
Have you ever felt the weight of maintaining a persona that doesn’t reflect your true self? We'd love to hear your stories and insights. Share your experiences with us all below.
— Ryan Puusaari
P.S. Letting go of roles that no longer fit takes courage. But every small step frees you. Every release clears a path back to your real self. Trust the process. Growth and happiness are waiting.