What happens when you stop pretending?

Hi ,

Happy Sunday, and welcome to our first issue of The FAM!

Right now, I’m sitting with a memory. Years ago, I was chasing all the ‘right’ things. Or at least that’s what I thought.

The business accolades, the earnings, the head nods of approval, and even the airline and hotel loyalty points. I was doing what a man was "supposed" to do. What a provider, a leader, a "success" story should do. And people saw it. Time and time again, friends and family would compliment me for the success they saw.

But honestly, I hated—I mean really hated hearing those compliments.  And you know why?  Because deep down inside, I felt like I had failed.

That I wasn’t good enough. That I hadn’t accomplished what others in the neighborhood, my clients, or my father had. While friends and family were recognizing me, I didn’t recognize who I was.

I was holding myself up to anything and everyone in comparison.  And I have to tell you, that is a game you cannot win.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

And not only the thief of joy, but the thief of authenticity, being, and loving who you are.

On the outside, my life looked good. It looked right. But inside? I felt empty.

Then one morning, a quiet question came to me:
"What would it look like if I lived authentically?"

No lightning strike. No breakdown. Just stillness.

And in that stillness, something cracked open. I realized I had been wearing masks. Different ones for different rooms. A mask for work, one for clients, another for home, and even one for when we gathered with friends.

And I was tired.

That morning didn’t change everything all at once. But it did change me.

I made a vow to stop performing and start aligning. Not with who the world expected me to be. But with who I actually am. And you know, that’s so much easier to say than do.

And this is one of the reasons I want to gather with you each Sunday morning through this email.

Because I know I’m not the only one who’s felt that ache. That disconnection. That quiet, persistent voice asking for more truth.

And I know the good that happens when we answer it. Are you ready to answer it?

Where in your life are you wearing a mask—modifying who you really are—to please or meet another’s expectations?

What does this all mean for you? You don’t need to throw everything out and you don’t need to make some loud announcement.

But maybe—just maybe—you’re feeling what I felt: like you’ve been performing a version of yourself that doesn’t quite feel right.

So let me offer this:

Start small. Start honest.

What if today, you let yourself take off one mask? Maybe at work, maybe at home. Just long enough to breathe and remember what it feels like to be you again.

What if you told a single truth to someone who matters? Not to shock them. But to free you. You don’t have to do it all at once. But you do have to start.

Because that moment you stop pretending? That’s the moment your real life starts breathing again.

Recently, I spoke with a team leader who told me he always felt he had to be "the strong one."

He carried the pressure like armor—never showing fear, never letting anyone in. Pushing through the stress all alone, even when the days were long and hard. He thought that’s what leadership required.

Then, during a particularly rough stretch, he finally cracked. He shared with his team what he was going through—the burnout, the doubt, the weight.

He braced for fallout.

But what came next surprised him: Deeper trust. Stronger bonds. Better collaboration. More humanity.

From his story, we learn that authenticity isn’t weakness—it’s the foundation for real leadership and genuine connection.

👉 I want to hear your stories. Reply to this email and let’s chat.

So this week, maybe it’s not about ripping off every mask at once.
Maybe it’s just about noticing—where am I shrinking, shifting, or hiding who I really am?


Because the more we notice, the more we can choose.
And with each choice, big or small, we come back to ourselves.

In closing, here is a note I made to myself in my journal. I hope it provides inspiration to you as it does me:

Remember:
When I follow someone else’s recipe, I’m following someone else’s life.


Authenticity isn’t about perfection. It’s about being true to ourselves.

Keep choosing. Keep showing up.
We’re with you.

Until next Sunday, here’s to staying Fully Alive.

P.S. If today’s message stirred something in you, there’s a good chance someone in your life needs it too. Maybe they’re tired of wearing the mask. Maybe they just need a reminder they’re not alone. Forward this to them—let them know it’s okay to be real.

We’re on a mission to empower one million people to live Fully Alive, and you’re one of them!