The Masks we Wear

We all at some time or another wear a mask - not a physical mask but a social mask - one that we put on before leaving the house to disguise or hide what we are truly feeling inside.

The Reader's Digest Oxford Complete Wordfinder defines 'Mask' as: a covering for all or part of the face: a disguise or: a concealment (of one's feelings).

Why do we feel we have to don that mask? Why can we not be ourselves, rather, why do we feel that we just cannot be ourselves? And why do we not have enough faith in ourselves to believe that we are just as good as the next person?
Norman Vincent Peale says such true words:-

Believe in yourself!

Have faith in your abilities!

Without a humble but

reasonable confidence

in you own powers you

cannot be successful or happy.

(Norman Vincent Peale)

Yes, all of us can wear a mask to hide such things as:

a fear of not fitting in:-

at a party, in a social setting,

at work, in a business meeting,

in the class room and, 

sadly even in our own family

OR

of hiding the truth of:-

being abused,

loneliness,

lack of confidence,

grief and expressing that grief to others,

being sick,

unhappy,

suicidal

being unfaithful,

AND

the list goes on-and-on!

Why are we afraid and wear these masks?

Are we afraid of being hurt further?

Of not fitting in?

 Of being belittled?

Are we ashamed? 

or

 what?

Inside we can be crying, lonely, heartbroken and full of despair

 but

on the outside we are carefree, laughing and happy-go-lucky!

MASKS

We all wear a thousand faces

and hide the one that's real,

we present an unruffled composure

and don't show what we feel.

Beneath that smiling exterior

we hide our hurts and fears,

we shy away from contact

just because it hurts.

We chat amiably to each other

not really caring to dig,

we feel we cannot deal with

the hurts that we'd reveal.

But dear friend God gave us

the gift, through love, to heal

if we would truly listen

and look behind the mask.

A hug, a word, a moment shared

sometimes that's all that's needed.

The springs break-up, the hurt is healed

so let us really listen

and,

 hear what is not said

and,

use our hearts compassion

to show someone we care.

(Marie Caukwell - copyright)

As caring people we should look behind the facade that people present and not take them at face value.

Instead, it need only take us a moment to

LISTEN

and

 LOOK

behind that smile, laughter, brightness

and then

 we might see pain, unhappiness, loneliness or some other hurt.

It need only take us a moment to forget ourselves and see the mask that is being worn,

the mask that is hiding or covering up something.

Then...

we can give a hug,

hold a hand,

 say a kind word

and

be there for that person.



The call to

SIMPLICITY AND FREEDOM

is a reminder that our worth

comes not from the amount

of our involvements,

achievements, or possessions,

but from the

DEPTH AND CARE

which we bring to each moment,

place, and person in our lives

(Richard A,Bower)

Dear friends

my hope for you today, and everyday, is that if you are wearing a mask throw it away and let us meet  each other face-to-face with honesty and compassion. Have the confidence to be who you are -go out there and embrace YOU! Embrace your personality, looks, feelings and your whole life. If you need support do not be afraid to seek it, if you are hurting do not be afraid to say so and KNOW that YOU are worth it! You are worth it!

take care

Ruth