Playing roles and acting are forms of lying. If a person acts like they really feel and it rocks the boat, they are ostracized. We promote pretense and lying as a cultural way of life. Living this way causes an inner split. It teaches us to hide and cover up our toxic shame. This sends us deeper into isolation and loneliness.
John Bradshaw, Healing the Shame that Binds You
culture, denial-of-emotions, isolation, roles, shame, toxic-shame