Masked Behind Professionalism: Losing Our True Selves at Work and How to Reconnect

Modern workplaces reward polish over presence. Over time, the professional mask we wear can quietly distance us from who we really are; a state psychologists call emotional dissonance. Drawing on the Quranic concept of sidq and the science of psychological safety, this article explores what authenticity at work actually looks like, and how to reclaim it without losing credibility.