Come out, come out, wherever you are

Beautiful but what’s behind the mask is surely more beautiful.  photo: tylershields.com

Last week, I took part in two fun activities that were polar opposites of each other.

Or so I thought.

I roamed through the Rubin Museum’s beautiful mask exhibit and was quietly and profoundly moved. Later that day, I went to a Meetup where I tried an exhilarating improv class for the first time.

These two activities BOTH had me thinking, What masks are we hiding behind every day?

Every moment, you project into the world a very specific image of who you are and what you want.

Are you representing who you truly are or are you hiding behind a mask?

Toss the mask and come out.

Who is the true you? Is he/she hiding behind clutter, pretense, fear, anger, humor, confusion or people-pleasing?

Our bodies mask a million emotions. Our homes mask a million more.

Walk around your home and you’ll see what I mean. Things are hidden in drawers, closets, fridges. WE are hidden behind social media posts and profiles. 

Being aware of how you are hiding is the first step in coming out from behind your mask.

Only then can you begin taking steps to remove your facade.

Take one step into fear. Make one less nervous joke or snide remark. Do away with fierce independence and allow yourself to receive profound love. Donate one thing from that pile. Just one thing.

It just take one action to change the energy, the vibration.

Then watch your mask start melting. It may not happen overnight as that mask took all these years to form.

But start now. Start today.

Make a promise to allow yourself to be your true self. Even if you don’t know who that is yet. Removing your disguise will reveal who you really are and give you permission to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Then get this:

We will still love you. Promise.