Teaching Through Struggles

I've been thinking about teaching life lessons through your own struggles of the heart or spirit.

There are two schools of thought here:

1. You wear these struggles openly and in public.
2. Or you hide them behind a front of some sort. This doesn't always involve the practice of deception. I can think of times when something like this is absolutely necessary.

The advantage of the first is transparency. The disadvantage of the first is that you are perceived by others as weak.

The advantage of the second is that people count on you because you're strong and don't have "troubles." The disadvantage of the second is that noone knows whether or not you need help.

Which is best? Is there a best?