🎭 You’re Not Broken — You’re Just Wearing a Mask

Ever feel like a fraud?

Like one day someone’s going to pull the curtain back and realise you’ve got no idea what you’re doing?

You’re not alone.
And you’re not broken.

You’re just wearing a mask.

Let me explain.

The Mask We Learn to Wear

From a young age, many of us are taught that to be accepted, we’ve got to perform.

Be the smart one.
Be the helpful one.
Be the quiet one.
Be the overachiever.

Whatever version you learned, it wasn’t about being you.
It was about being safe.

And over time, that performance turns into a mask.

A smile when you’re anxious.
A joke when you’re doubting yourself.
A long night of over-prepping just to feel “enough.”

You become skilled at pretending you’re confident, capable, in control.

And sometimes you are.

But underneath, the mask gets heavier.
It rubs. It cracks. It suffocates.

Because it wasn’t built for you — it was built to protect you.

But now?

It’s holding you back.

What Is Imposter Syndrome, Really?

We often throw the phrase around:
“Ugh, I’ve got imposter syndrome again.”

But what we’re really saying is:

• “I feel like I don’t belong here.”
• “I’m scared they’ll find me out.”
• “I must’ve just got lucky.”

These are symptoms — not a syndrome.
There’s nothing medically wrong with you.
You’re just reacting to years of pressure, expectation, comparison, and mixed messages.

Imposter syndrome isn’t a diagnosis.
It’s a mirror.

It reflects back where your self-trust was broken.
Where you learned to tie your worth to output, perfection, or external praise.

Let’s Talk About the Mask

Imagine this:

You’ve been walking around for years wearing a mask. It’s tight. It’s stiff. But it’s what got you here.

Only now you want to speak up, but the mask muffles your voice.
You want to take risks, but the mask blocks your vision.
You want to breathe — properly — but the mask’s still strapped on tight.

It helped you survive.
But it’s not helping you thrive.

And that’s the shift.

3 Ways to Start Taking the Mask Off

Here are three small, practical ways to start living without it:

1. Name the Inner Voice

That voice in your head saying “You’re not good enough”?

It’s not the truth. It’s just familiar.

Give it a name. Something daft. Something human.

“Alright Nervous Nigel, I see you.”

The second you name it, you separate you from it.
You create space between your true self and the nonsense it whispers.

2. Keep a ‘Wins’ List

Your brain is wired to log threats, not triumphs.
So it’ll remember that one awkward Zoom call forever…
But forget the 27 things you nailed last week.

Start a Wins List.
Daily if you can. Weekly if you must.

Big things, little things, “didn’t spiral even though I wanted to” things.

Over time, you build real evidence that the mask is lying to you.

3. Take Imperfect Action

The mask says “wait until you’re ready.”
But readiness is a moving target.

Instead, do it scared.

Speak up while your voice shakes.
Send the thing you wrote before it feels polished.
Say yes even when doubt kicks off in your chest.

You don’t build confidence and then act.
You act, and confidence follows.

That’s the deal.

The Real Cost of Keeping the Mask On

If you ignore it, here’s what happens:

You’ll overwork but undercharge.
You’ll be praised but feel unworthy.
You’ll look successful but feel like a fraud.

And worst of all?

You’ll miss out on your own life.
Because you’ll always feel like you’re performing in someone else’s show.

The mask becomes a cage.
You decorate it. You polish it.
But it’s still a cage.

You deserve better.

Let’s Be Honest

You’re already doing more than you think.
You’re already more capable than your fear allows you to see.

This isn’t about “fixing” yourself.

It’s about taking the mask off — bit by bit — and seeing what was there all along.

You.
Enough.
As you are.

Want Help Taking the Mask Off?

If this hit home, I’ve created something that goes deeper.

It’s called Break the Mask: Beating Imposter Syndrome for Good.

It’s a no-fluff, straight-talking course made up of bite-sized video sessions that help you:

• Understand where imposter syndrome really comes from
• Identify the survival habits holding you back
• Use 7 practical strategies to rebuild your confidence
• Finally feel proud of what you’ve achieved — and own your space

It’s not a pep talk.
It’s not therapy.
It’s the in-between bit — where mindset meets action.

🎓 Join the waiting list now to get early access and a discount when it launches.

👉 ash.club/IS

You’ve done the hard part already — you kept going.

Now let’s take the mask off.

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