When you can't be authentic, the quality of your life will suffer. Your relationships and your performance will go downhill. Why? Because you can't be effective when you're hiding your pain, wearing masks and trying to be everything to everyone. You can't be productive either. Remember that you can only squash your pain for so long before it resurfaces. People develop symptoms that create huge interferences. Anxiety, stress, depression amongh many others. When you get too caught up in trying to protect your image, there are many negative consquesnces. The bottom line is that it's not woth it. Figure out how to understand and share your pain. Use it sas a guide toward becoming more authentic.