Taking Off the Mask: Authenticity, Identity, and the Freedom to Live Aligned
There comes a moment for many of us when the roles we’ve been playing no longer fit.
The high achiever. The good daughter. The people-pleaser. The leader who always has it together.
In Episode 66 of the Her Resources Podcast, host Linda Misegadis sits down with Dr. Natalie L. Hines for a deeply honest conversation about what happens when we stop performing for approval and start listening to ourselves.
This episode isn’t about overnight transformation or perfectly curated self-discovery. It’s about the messy, uncomfortable, and ultimately freeing process of taking off the mask.
The Mask We Learn to Wear
From a young age, many women are taught—explicitly or implicitly—that love, validation, and success are earned through achievement and compliance. Good grades. The right career. The right timeline. The right personality.
Dr. Hines shares how cultural expectations and external pressure shaped her early identity, guiding her toward paths that looked successful on paper but felt misaligned internally. Like so many high-performing women, she learned how to survive by adapting, pleasing, and pushing through—even when it came at a cost.
And that cost adds up.
The Hidden Cost of Performance
Wearing a mask doesn’t just drain us emotionally—it impacts our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
In the episode, Dr. Hines speaks candidly about the toll of constantly trying to live up to standards that weren’t hers to begin with: burnout, anxiety, overworking, and a persistent feeling that something was wrong—even when everything appeared “successful.”
One of the most powerful reminders from the conversation:
The outside can look perfect while the inside is in turmoil.
True fulfillment doesn’t come from checking boxes. It comes from alignment.
You Can’t Change How People See You
A defining moment in the episode centers around a simple but liberating truth:
You can’t change how people see you.
Dr. Hines explains how much energy we waste trying to manage perceptions—explaining ourselves, defending choices, and hoping for understanding. The reality? Other people’s opinions are shaped by their own experiences, projections, and masks.
Freedom begins when we stop trying to be understood by everyone and start honoring what feels right for us.
The “Let Them” Mindset
One of the most impactful frameworks discussed in this episode is the “let them” mindset.
Let them misunderstand you.
Let them disagree.
Let them think whatever they want.
Choosing alignment over approval doesn’t mean you stop caring—it means you stop abandoning yourself.
When we release the need to control external validation, we create space to finally ask the question that matters most: Who am I doing this for?
Redefining Identity and Success
The conversation also explores identity shifts—particularly around introversion, extroversion, leadership, and success. Dr. Hines shares how the pandemic became a turning point, revealing that the version of herself she’d been performing wasn’t the version that actually brought peace.
Success, she reminds us, is not one-size-fits-all.
And perhaps the most grounding truth of the episode:
The only person who gets to grade your life is you.
Values as a Compass
As Dr. Hines navigated career transitions and personal change, she found herself facing a blank slate—without parents, titles, or external expectations dictating the next step.
That space, while empowering, can also be terrifying.
Her work now focuses on helping others clarify their values, reconnect with authenticity, and design lives rooted in intention rather than obligation. Through reflection, curiosity, and self-honesty, values become a compass—guiding decisions when the noise gets loud.
A Reminder for Every Woman on This Journey
Taking off the mask doesn’t happen all at once.
It’s a choice we make again and again.
To pause.
To question.
To listen.
This episode is a powerful reminder that authenticity is not about becoming someone new—it’s about returning to who you’ve always been.
Listen to the Full Episode
🎧 Episode 66: Taking Off the Mask – Authenticity, Identity & the “Let Them” Mindset with Dr. Natalie L. Hines
Listen on the Her Resources Podcast:
Website: https://herresourcespodcast.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hrpodcast
Connect with Dr. Natalie L. Hines
Learn more about Dr. Hines and her work:
Website: https://ezrgov.com/home
DesignHer Plans Workbooks: https://designherplans.myshopify.com/
If this conversation resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who may be ready to take off their own mask. At Her Resources, we believe these conversations matter—because when women live aligned, everything changes.