You're not alone in having learned how to pass as male (how I interpret what you're saying). I can relate a history as you describe, I've done stuff that very few men ever get to --- professionally, I'm fairly accomplished, I've done a lot of traditionally macho stuff. However when I realized I was female inside 20 years ago I just learned how to think more like a woman as I did them e.g. I rock climb in manner that's characteristic of females.
So I shed a lot of my attachments after deciding that while acknowledging myself as trans I wouldn't transition. What I didn't realize was just how much I was hiding and when some uncomfortable situations came up that pushed me into more male ways of doing things (resolving conflicts not of my making) it made me extremely angry and depressed - how I usually deal with anger.
Ultimately that has moved me to start HRT and to be out visibly transitioning.
Yes it's making me more happy, less defensive.