Everything we seek to derive our identity from (such as being a care-taker, do-gooder, sacrificer, hard worker, accomplisher, great at being a mother, daughter, wife, friend, and so forth…), is a futile attempt to cover up our insecurities.
Don't we love to do things that make us look good? This is called "pride". But underneath pride is unworthiness. Unworthiness is a lack of "self"...the inability to see ourselves in a positive light.
The truth of who you are may not be as pretty as you would like it to be, but we all have character defects. When we have a healthy, strong sense of "self", we are comfortable with our defects. But if we have shame, we go to great lengths to hide who we are, from others.
It’s better to be honest about ourselves than to pretend to be someone we are not. It takes courage to be transparent and sincere...