No, not the mask you might be thinking of…this is not that kind of blog. I’m talking about the “mask” you’re wearing to show the world you’re doing great when, in reality, something much different may be true.
We all do this, by the way. There is no shame in it. I’m simply asking because, well, I wear one on a regular basis and I know what it’s like to hide behind something to avoid revealing your true self.
For me, it’s making jokes. I’ve used humor to mask all kinds of hurts and pains in my life and still do to this day. After all, it feels better to laugh than to cry, right? Perhaps you can relate.
Maybe for you it’s a different kind of mask. Being busy all the time? Substance abuse? Social media posts showing your life looking perfect, even though it’s in shambles?
Just being real…and that’s the point. Too many times in my life, I haven’t been real because I didn’t want to reveal the extent of sadness or something similar in my life. Sound familiar? If so, know that you are not alone.
In the end, wearing a mask can temporarily keep you from having to feel pain or hurt. Fake it until you make it, right? Well, no. Wrong, because it doesn’t really get us anywhere to keep doing this.
So, what’s the point, here? Honestly, I don’t know because I just started writing some thoughts that were on my mind. But, if there is a point, I think it would be to make it a habit of being real – with yourself and with others.
Sure, being real can lead to you feeling some deep emotions and it could hurt a bit. It can be scary to be real. But, the alternative is to keep kicking the can down the road on some potentially significant things in our lives that probably would be better if they were addressed and dealt with sooner than later.
Thanks for letting me be real with you, here. Have a great day.
positively second 