From my own experience and observation, I think there are elements in our community that approach Islam like it is a cult. I don’t mean those weird groups that form and have a shaykh or an emir they want you to pledge allegiance to; I am talking about within the mainstream. Those elements that think you are not supposed to have a personality of your own, or that you should not retain any aspects of your own culture, and so on. Being a “good Muslim” to them, means playing a role; following a certain script, adopting certain positions and opinions, etc. This is something that affects converts a lot, but it can happen to anyone who, at one point or another, decides to commit themselves to the religion. Like you are expected to erase everything about yourself and replace it all with some sort of collection of generic virtues and characteristics you find in a book about “the Ideal Muslim”.
This doesn’t work. And it isn’t supposed to. Everyone should try to be better, should try to be more righteous; of course. But you are supposed to be a better and more righteous version of yourself, not a cardboard cut-out. We are not supposed to be a nation of clones.
When you play the role of a “good Muslim”, this is superficial, and it won’t last. Be Muslim, and be yourself; internalize the values; when you follow the Sunnah, do it as yourself, not INSTEAD of being yourself.