It is because I live with anxiety that I have chosen not to hide behind a mask. As a child I wanted to talk about things. It is the only way I know to feel better about things. It lightens the load.
Hiding behind our imperfections
I'm sure I'm probably not the norm. We may hide behind our imperfections, our emotions, because we’re not comfortable in our own skin. It also means we're less accepting of who we are.
Outward appearances
Outward appearances may define us, but hiding behind our emotions is who we really are. We may show others we’ve got our lives together, but outward appearances can be deceptive, and we pretend we're fine.
But what others see with our outward appearance, isn’t what they know about us. To the outside world our lives look perfect, but outward appearances may belie a different story to the one we know, to the one we hide from. Instead, we should be truthful with ourselves.
Non-truths and stress
Not being truthful with who we are, not only adds more stress to what may be an already challenging life, it also means we're hiding issues that we're choosing to ignore and that's not good for our health.
Personally, I feel like I have been hiding behind a mask for much of my life. I was forced to be a chameleon as a child so that I could make everyone else happy, but my needs never really mattered so it's no wonder I lost my identity.
I'm sure that was why they diagnosed me with 'mixed personality disorder' when I was awaiting discharge from the Army. I have spent most of my life trying to be normal, when I was anything but.
I'm at the point in my life now where I don't want to hide behind masks anymore, since I like being myself, even when I don't know who that is most of the time.
Thanks Randy. Yes, I get that. Although I don't really equate my experiences in the same way, not talking is hiding, so I understand you. It was temporary.
I think you're right, when you're unconsciously molded, you take on another person's life and you hide behind it. It's just something you know to do.
We may often feel we have no choice but to conform, but each of us are unique, and as long as we're not hurting anyone, we shouldn't have to conform in that way.
I think you've come a long way Randy, to when we first met on social media. I think you're doing really well. I like the 'real you'. You wear your heart on your sleeve, you say how things are and that's sending out a powerful message.
In a world where people have changed, or are in the process of changing, you are uniquely the same as you always were. I love that.