time to remove your mask
Do you wear a mask? I’m not talking about during Halloween or Mardi Gras. I’m referring to the plain, ordinary days in between, at work, or school or at parties. Is there a face you hide behind when you don’t want people to see the real you? That’s the mask I’m talking about!
Why would I not want people to see the real me?
The reasons don’t matter. They often boil down to the same thing: Self Acceptance. People who don’t accept, let alone feel good about the person they are sometimes wear masks. It’s not really all that uncommon. If you don’t feel that the real you meets certain standards, you may be tempted to hide behind a fabricated image.
If others see the real me, they might judge me.
You may not be aware of this belief on a conscious level – but might it be lurking in the wings? We all know people who sit in judgment of others. They’re critical, they gossip, and malign another’s character. But make no mistake about it – their opinions have nothing to do with the person they’re criticizing. Usually these self-appointed judges don’t feel good about themselves in the first place, and because it may be too painful to see themselves as less-than-perfect, they need to proclaim others as damaged goods.
Getting back to that mask…
We don’t wear masks with the intention of being fake. We wear them for protection. In a society that often revels beauty over brains, and thin over curvacious (I’ve experienced a fleeting moment of imperfection when someone announces their party dress is a size zero), it’s not so unusual to think we’re being judged even when someone hasn’t said a word. What we’re really hearing is our own self-concept speaking loud and clear. No, no, no…we don’t need outsiders. We often judge ourselves more harshly than anyone else.
The Good News
Your mask isn’t stuck on with super glue. You can remove it any time you like, if you want to. Sure, it takes courage, but you can do it. It may not seem like it, but it actually takes more work to hide than to be real. You’ll discover this once you remove your mask. Being phony and guarding that paper image takes much more energy than just being you.
Secrets Are Okay
Keep your secrets if you want to. There will always be things you don’t want your friends to know about you. Removing your mask doesn’t mean full disclosure. It simply means letting go of being someone you’re not, just so others will like you. You’re likeable just the way you are. Give people a chance to get to know you.
Do you wear a mask? I’m not talking about during Halloween or Mardi Gras. I’m referring to the plain, ordinary days in between, at work, or school or at parties. Is there a face you hide behind when you don’t want people to see the real you? That’s the mask I’m talking about!
Why would I not want people to see the real me?
The reasons don’t matter. They often boil down to the same thing: Self Acceptance. People who don’t accept, let alone feel good about the person they are sometimes wear masks. It’s not really all that uncommon. If you don’t feel that the real you meets certain standards, you may be tempted to hide behind a fabricated image.
If others see the real me, they might judge me.
You may not be aware of this belief on a conscious level – but might it be lurking in the wings? We all know people who sit in judgment of others. They’re critical, they gossip, and malign another’s character. But make no mistake about it – their opinions have nothing to do with the person they’re criticizing. Usually these self-appointed judges don’t feel good about themselves in the first place, and because it may be too painful to see themselves as less-than-perfect, they need to proclaim others as damaged goods.
Getting back to that mask…
We don’t wear masks with the intention of being fake. We wear them for protection. In a society that often revels beauty over brains, and thin over curvacious (I’ve experienced a fleeting moment of imperfection when someone announces their party dress is a size zero), it’s not so unusual to think we’re being judged even when someone hasn’t said a word. What we’re really hearing is our own self-concept speaking loud and clear. No, no, no…we don’t need outsiders. We often judge ourselves more harshly than anyone else.
The Good News
Your mask isn’t stuck on with super glue. You can remove it any time you like, if you want to. Sure, it takes courage, but you can do it. It may not seem like it, but it actually takes more work to hide than to be real. You’ll discover this once you remove your mask. Being phony and guarding that paper image takes much more energy than just being you.
Secrets Are Okay
Keep your secrets if you want to. There will always be things you don’t want your friends to know about you. Removing your mask doesn’t mean full disclosure. It simply means letting go of being someone you’re not, just so others will like you. You’re likeable just the way you are. Give people a chance to get to know you.
