Balancing Authenticity with Resilience - In Conversation with Adam Lind (S20E9)

A note before you listen: Adam shares a personal experience involving grief and suicide that emerged naturally during our conversation. This episode isn't focused on those themes - we're exploring resilience, authenticity, masking, and boundaries - and I'm flagging this so you can choose whether this feels ok for you. Ultimately, this is a wide-ranging conversation between two friends; an episode of tenderness, hope and connection.

Balancing Authenticity with Self-Protection and Resilience - In Conversation with Adam Lind

Today I'm joined by Adam Lind, author of Floating Home, for the second of our three-part deep dive on resilience.

We explore what happens when we feel we need to mask our true selves - and the difference between masking (an unconscious survival strategy) and performative behaviour (a more conscious choice about how we show up). We also discuss compartmentalisation: how we can temporarily set things aside to function, and when that strategy risks becoming unhealthy.

The most important aspect of this whole conversation is that there is no 'one right response' to our experience of the world. All these strategies and behaviours are deeply, truly human. And we are all learning how to navigate what life reveals to us, in our own way, in our own time.

You'll hear:

• How masking can show up in any environment where we don't feel safe - and why it can be exhausting
• The difference between masking, performative behaviour, and compartmentalisation - all strategies that can look like resilience from the outside (or feel like resilience from the inside)
• Why authenticity and unmasking can perhaps begin to feel more resilient than protecting ourselves has done in the past
• Boundaries as the foundation of compassion - and how clear boundaries enable resilience
• How Adam refuses to mask, even when it's socially awkward - and what that costs and gains him
• The paradox: we need both authenticity AND the ability to protect ourselves
• Why self-trust comes from honouring our own boundaries

Adam and I are also co-creating a retreat in October. The Weekend of No Requirements, 16-19 October 2026 is a space where you can show up exactly as you are.
Find out more here: https://www.hennyflynn.co.uk/the-weekend-of-no-requirements

Settle in and see where this conversation takes you.

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