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In this episode, we're talking about the thing most high achievers are terrified of: living authentically.

We explore why we crave authenticity but do everything to avoid it, the masks we wear (and why they've worked), the lies we tell ourselves, and the critical difference between masking and becoming.

You'll learn:

• Why authenticity feels like a threat to survival (and why your nervous system resists it)
• The masks high achievers wear and why they've been so successful
• The core fear underneath all the others: "What if the real me isn't enough?"
• How to tell the difference between discernment (choosing which part shows up) and masking (hiding who you are)
• The nuance of masks vs. becoming: When stepping into your future self feels like pretending (but isn't)
• What changes when you drop the mask and show up as your real self
• How to navigate the hard questions: disappointing loved ones, authenticity vs. selfishness, and more

Plus: Debs shares her personal story of moving to Italy, breaking ancestral DNA that's been rooted in the same place for hundreds of years, and why stepping into an unfamiliar life isn't wearing a mask, it's becoming.

If you're exhausted from performing, terrified of losing the identity you've built, and wondering if you're brave enough to step beyond the mask, this episode is for you.

Join Debs for a free 75-minute live masterclass on YouTube:
"Beyond the Mask: Navigating the Fear of Losing Who You've Been to Become Who You Are"

📅 Thursday, December 5th, 2025
🕖 7:00 PM CET / 6:00 PM GMT / 1:00 PM EST / 10:00 AM PST

👉 Register free: whlinstitute.com/beyond-the-mask

💛 Work with Debs 1-on-1: Recalibration Mentorship
If you're ready for deep, personalised support as you drop the mask and step into wholeness, Recalibration Mentorship might be for you.

This is transformational work for high achievers, visionaries, and leaders who are ready to stop performing and start living from wholeness.

👉 Learn more and apply:

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If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe to the WholeHearted Living Podcast so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop every Thursday.

And if you're feeling generous, leave a review and share what's landing for you. Your words help other seekers find this work.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for choosing wholeness. Thank you for having the courage to tell yourself the truth.

Please do share this podcast far and wide to help us reach as many people as possible.

And as our gift to you, Debs has created the Rooted in Wholeness- a collection of grounding practices, journal prompts, and reflections that go deeper into season two's theme of Wholeness and Belonging. It’s completely free, and you can sign up to receive it online at www.whlinstitute.com.

And if you'd like to gift Debs a personal thank you, you can Buy Me A Coffee here, knowing it will fuel many more moments of inspiration.

Thank you for listening, supporting, and most of all, for walking this path of wholehearted living with us.

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