Yes! We are shaping our environment and in turn our environment shapes us. Life is like an infinite information feedback loop and figuring out what part of that information is the real you can be pretty challenging. We forgot how to use our intuition and stand tall for the things we want (because you fear that others might not applaud). I am 37 and i needed to hit rock bottom before being able to dare being myself. Had to think of a quote by E.E. Cummings whilst reading your article

“To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight.”

Keep up the good work!