Thank you, Sasha, on 2.5 levels.
First, sometimes I do that very thing; talk myself out of approaching her. I appreciate the concrete "Here's what you can DO... ask myself where i got this limiting thought..."
(B) Authenticity. Yes! Being "real" seems to be increasingly discouraged. One aspect of that i was just thinking about today: the disease of "everything must be positive, good, light, comfortable." And people are teaching this to children! No wonder we're seeing this hopefully short-lived trend of delicate snowflakes and refusing to accept responsibility and thus, power. Worship of the victim. Race to the bottom.
Oh! And that helicopter treatment of kids gives them the message that their discomfort, sadness, anger, etc are "ugly/bad" emotions which best be hidden. Leading to a habit of wearing the mask.
So thanks for being a beacon.