Thanks Rose.
Yep, and I can see it's both an issue with myself, and something I notice men in general doing; and I am sure there's a female equivalent too (things women do, where they're not being their genuine lovely selves around men).
I think understanding why we do things, the motivations for our (ego-based) behaviours, can be a very good first step in dropping these unwanted behaviours. That's my motivation for wanting to know the why. It's the old, shining the light of awareness on a problem. Once we have an awareness of the issue, the why and the wherefor, these things drop away naturally (in theory!).
Don't think I need any kind of coaching with this, it's enough just to discuss the issue.
Anyhow, it feels as if, when I try to impress, or put on a fake front, that I dishonour my inner sense of wonderfulness. I cover that up, and perhaps confuse weakness for strength, and strength for weakness. Does that make sense? It's like an unwillingness we men have to expose our soft underbelly, or vulnerablity. Rather, we feel this need to act hard, or be 'perfect', tough and in control, more than we feel the need to be genuine, or heart-felt. Perhaps this reflects what we generally feel, women want to see in men?