When embarking on a career change, many people decide to leave their old life behind in order to create a new one. They change their surroundings, move to another country, abandon familiar settings, believing that they will flourish more fully elsewhere.

As if changing a title, a wardrobe, or an office were enough to bring about an inner transformation.
As if external change could trigger a profound metamorphosis.

To think this way is to misunderstand the powerful force that lies dormant within the human being.

Behind novelty, the euphoria of beginnings, the excitement of a project or of new encounters, there often lie illusions, idealizations, and superficiality.

An invisible continuity remains: the mask we wear.

What is the mask?

The mask is the image we construct to meet the expectations of others.

It may take many forms:
• Presenting a career change that “looks good”
• Seeking validation from loved ones and from society
• Proving to others that we are strong enough to succeed
• Continuing to hide who we truly are
• Struggling to prioritize due to misplaced ego

In the end, it means leaving one role behind without being honest with oneself or with others.
It is another way of fleeing one’s truth.

From a black mask we move to a grey one. The same scenarios play out again.

The illusion
of rebirth

Whether in love or at work, the temptation is strong to believe that turning a page is enough to start over.

The easy option: sweeping the past away and persuading oneself that life will be more beautiful, smoother, even lighter, from now on.

But life is not that simple.
Our wounds, fears, and memories travel with us.

For example, if one has experienced relational difficulties (poor communication, inability to handle conflict, difficulty delegating) it is an illusion to believe such issues will never resurface.

We may gift ourselves a new setting, a different daily life… but if we refuse to unearth our inner blockages, chances are THE mask will return. That same mask we are running from will reappear, whether we like it or not.

An endless story that shows us that changing careers or launching a project does not guarantee freedom. Without inner work, the same repetitive patterns will come back.

The mask of
appearances

Some new professional ventures boast flawless communication.
The words are polished. The images are captivating. The videos tell a story. The pitch is convincing.

And yet, behind the refined messaging, it is often easy to sense the hand of someone else, or even the use of artificial intelligence.

In this world of façades, authenticity is frequently diminished. The person behind the project loses their aura. Inconsistencies gradually appear between the image they project and the truth they long to embody.

By letting others dictate the strategic angle of their communication, they forget to ask themselves what they are truly reflecting. The photos and videos shared lose touch with the original values. Storytelling and marketing overshadow the humanity of the project.

It creates the illusion of moving forward, while in truth the person is increasingly trapped in a new role: not being fully themselves, becoming merely the showcase for someone else’s narrative.

The path to transformation is poorly paved.

Believing they had shed the mask of the past, they now wear two: the ever-lingering mask of their history, and the new façade of communication.

The signs the mask
is still there

Acknowledging one’s armor is not easy. Denial is far simpler.

Often, especially during a career transition, we convince ourselves that we have found our path and made the right decisions.

We feel exhilarated. People congratulate us for our courage and new commitment. We drink in their words and their praise.

Until one day, the cracks resurface:

• Indecision outweighs action
• The inner saboteur returns
• The quest for perfection clashes with reality
• Fear of scarcity holds us back
• The need for recognition makes us lose ourselves
• Excessive delegation helps us avoid accountability
• Pride dominates at the expense of balance

And inevitably, external pressures follow: project stress, societal expectations, lack of opportunities, or a flawed business model.

A well-worn mask always gives the illusion of freedom. It is but a mirage.

Gradually, the person suffers from their lack of clarity. They sink deeper into self-deception, listening to others’ advice at the expense of their own truth.

Without becoming aware of their destructive patterns, they face a boomerang effect.
Their new life grows uncomfortable, even oppressive, until they address what they have been fleeing.

What we avoid always ends up controlling us.

Shedding the mask,
a path to self

Removing the mask does not mean renouncing change.
On the contrary, it means choosing a transformation that is lasting and aligned.

This involves:

• Daring to face one’s shadows instead of running from them
• Embracing fears rather than denying them or being paralyzed by them
• Taking responsibility, particularly for one’s identity
• Seeking inner balance before outer image
• Stripping away appearances in favor of being
• Letting go of ego-driven control
• Refusing roles that are not truly ours
• Becoming authentic, in every sense

It is demanding work, but it is the only path toward a solid transition that will not collapse at the first obstacle.

The courage
to unmask

Changing jobs is not enough. Changing lives is not enough either.

Behind the mask lies a truth waiting to be revealed.
Refusing to see it condemns us to repetition.
Welcoming it offers the possibility of true freedom.

A mask that is too tight will always suffocate. Removing it means breathing again.

To dare to unmask oneself is to dare to encounter one’s true self.
It is to accept the mirror that others hold up. It is to understand that the most demanding people are often those who help us move forward. Above all, it is by staying present in challenging moments that we reveal ourselves.

Noëlie Nottet

Human capital

October 15, 2025