---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some of us have been hiding, shrinking…"
description: "\"“Some of us have been hiding, shrinking, betraying ourselves, faking the funk, and playing small for so long that we believe that we are small. That sh..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e98/abiola-abrams-26697_african_some-of-us-have-been-hiding-shrinking-be_2897714.jpg"
---

#  Some of us have been hiding, shrinking, betraying…

![“Some of us have been hiding, shrinking, betraying ourselves, faking the funk, and playing small for so long that we believe that we are small. That shrunken self is not you. That shrunken self is a persona you created to survive.” quote by Abiola Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e98/abiola-abrams-26697_african_some-of-us-have-been-hiding-shrinking-be_2897714.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e98/abiola-abrams-26697_african_some-of-us-have-been-hiding-shrinking-be_2897714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e98/abiola-abrams-26697_african_some-of-us-have-been-hiding-shrinking-be_2897714.jpg)

> ““Some of us have been hiding, shrinking, betraying ourselves, faking the funk, and playing small for so long that we believe that we are small. That shrunken self is not you. That shrunken self is a persona you created to survive.””

[Abiola Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiola-abrams/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Describes how people shrink themselves to survive, urging reclamation of true identity beyond survival personas.

**In simple terms:** Survival personas shrink us.

Key Takeaway

Reclaim authentic self.

Themes

self‑growth identity psychology

Mood

encouraging introspective

Type

self‑help psychology

When to use this quote

- therapy
- personal development
- coaching

Key Concepts

persona theory self‑compassion

Questions to Reflect On

- What persona do you hide behind?
- How can you nurture authentic self?

A Different Perspective

Changing deep‑rooted personas is challenging.

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