Hex’s Story: From Hiding Behind a Mask to Expressing What Matters
How a Gutsy course helped Hex move from exhaustion and self-doubt to authentic confidence, creativity and joy.
“Now I express what I want, rather than keeping it all inside.”
I didn’t know how much I needed this course until I did it!
I wanted to build confidence and I was really hoping to learn some tools to help make social interactions less exhausting, as they can feel when I come to them with a confident ‘mask’. I wanted a way to show up that felt more authentic and therefore less tiring.
How was the course?
It shed light on the methods I’ve learned to survive in the world as a shy person. There was space to choose from these, and to make the decision to try new ways of showing up in the world.
Doing simple improvisation exercises was completely new to me. The idea of just doing what feels right in the moment, or finding out what I’m going to say or do at the same time as everyone else – this is so crazy to me! And I think doing the drama unlocked some things I had forgotten that I really enjoy from being a child.
It was amazing to learn that many of us share similar experiences and challenges. I realised that I am not as weird or different as I always think! There are many other people who struggle with the same challenges as me.
“I just loved the group of people, and the gentle facilitation that allowed for everyone to feel safe and comfortable enough to be soft, share and be vulnerable.”
What’s changed for you?
Since doing the Gutsy course, I really see myself acting differently socially. The other day I went to the house of a friend of a friend who I didn’t know without asking for any kind of brief about them beforehand... and had fun! I even asked the friend to give their friend my number – the kind of thing that would’ve sent me into a tailspin before about whether it’s appropriate.
Creatively there has been a huge impact. I have been working on my poetry and signed up for a poetry workshop and an open mic night. I’ve been prioritising testing out creative practices to express what I want to, rather than keeping it all inside.
The course helped me to come to the realisation that I even needed to do that, and now I am it feels so right! I am starting a course to learn to DJ as well. I have really been allowing myself to think about doing what I want, and not feeling shame that I am too old, or too far down a certain path, or that it has to be my life’s work. It’s okay just to try things and have fun!
“The course was gentle, playful and a profound experience. For me it worked deep under the surface on bringing attention to long-held beliefs and limits that were weighing me down.
The practices and tasks we did as a group helped me to recognise these, and with others in the group consider alternative ways of being in the world. I am massively grateful.”
Hex did a course very similar to Unleash (an earlier iteration) – Gutsy’s 12-week course designed to help shy, socially anxious and quiet people build confidence, self-trust and ease in connection. If you’d like to explore how play, creativity, mutual support and gentle drama can help you show up more fully as yourself, Unleash might be for you.