I was just watching a youtube on Jungian personas and masks. The problem, Jung said, is that people put on masks to gain love and acceptance but hide their true authentic selves. Over time, they forget who they really are and become their mask.
The video was about how to remove the mask and discover your true self, but all I kept thinking was “love and acceptance? just for putting on a mask? how can I learn this skill?”
I’ll need to give that one a read. I’m nearing my sixth decade of life, and while I think I found love, I still have to mask to make it seem right. After all this time, I doubt any true sense of acceptance is in the cards for me.
She talks about mourning for the acceptance you didn’t get, and that freeing you to finally be yourself.
It’s not a terribly long or hard read, go ahead. But without a therapist by your side it might prove not very helpful. It’s not a self-help book, it will show you the problem with clarity, but solving it is through bespoke therapy.