Every time I see a new face I wonder was hidden behind that mask. We all wear a mask where we portray what we are supposed to be around others. We have an incredible world behind that mask.
Few years ago I did an exercise in a Psychology class about the mask we share with others. First we painted a mask in a paper and then we wrote on the back the good and bad characteristics of ourselves. After that, we show the painting to everyone in the class. People had to describe everyone’s mask (beautiful, brave, passionate, etc.) and then we have to show the back of the paper where we wrote who we really are. Some people surprise the students because behind a beautiful mask there was a person who had a lot of fears and insecurities or behind an ugly mask was a person who was honest, generous and lovely.
Who we really are is the person behind that mask. We are accustomed to know who we are around others, but we aren’t that accustomed to know who we are around ourselves. How can we know the person behind the mask? When we are alone.
That aloneness is our purest essence. If we turn off all the distractions and spend time with ourselves we can achieve that. We need the time to meditate, to analyze our lives and to reflect of what’s going on in our surroundings.
Being alone could be a challenge. Some people confuse this with being lonely, but is not. Being alone is to be with yourself and being lonely is when you need something or someone to make you happy. The feeling of loneliness vanishes when you first work in being alone. Do not be afraid of what you may find there. Not everything is as it seems. Being alone and feeling good about it means that you have a balance in your life and every now and then you take a break to visit yourself.
Who we decide to see this pure essence of ourselves is something that I call beauty. No mask, just you. Right now I’m working on leaving that mask behind and just being surrounded with people who can see that beauty – the beauty of being myself.
I hope you get inspired with this and begin a new journey where I secure you, you will be happier. Bye bye mask!
Have a good day! 🙂
xoxo,
Cristina
