Comments on: What’s The Mask You’re Wearing? http://www.followingyourjoy.com/letting-life-happen/what%e2%80%99s-the-mask-you%e2%80%99re-wearing Watch the magic unfold when you follow the things in life that make you come alive and bring you joy! Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:18:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Discover Your Next Step | Jungle of Life http://www.followingyourjoy.com/letting-life-happen/what%e2%80%99s-the-mask-you%e2%80%99re-wearing/comment-page-1#comment-6052 Discover Your Next Step | Jungle of Life Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:49:10 +0000 http://www.followingyourjoy.com/?p=1507#comment-6052 [...] Be okay with who you are.  BE with that.  BE with you.  Embrace what is already there, perhaps tucked away in the recesses of your heart.  [...] [...] Be okay with who you are.  BE with that.  BE with you.  Embrace what is already there, perhaps tucked away in the recesses of your heart.  [...]

]]> By: Michelle @ Following Your Joy http://www.followingyourjoy.com/letting-life-happen/what%e2%80%99s-the-mask-you%e2%80%99re-wearing/comment-page-1#comment-2288 Michelle @ Following Your Joy Sun, 18 Jul 2010 19:28:10 +0000 http://www.followingyourjoy.com/?p=1507#comment-2288 @ Liv: Hi! You bring up a great point about how all those women were probably wearing their 'masks,' too. It seems that there is a big force, externally, which encourages us to play the game, fit in, etc. I feel it often, and felt a little "victory" recently when I chose to wear jeans to a funeral. I felt more like "me" in those jeans and it's what I needed to do. It was still tough when I saw others in dresses and suits, but more importantly, it felt good that I left the mask at home. Thanks for joining in the conversation and for your thought-provoking comment. @ Anna: Fantastic insight! You are so right about how we diminish who we are when we wear those masks...and how we also feel less valued. I never thought about how we actually "believe" the masks that we see others wear. Yes, we begin to believe in a story about others that is untrue. Love your idea about our lights shining through, which makes the masks completely unnecessary! We all must focus on our lights and letting them shine. Thanks, Anna! @ Mark: Wow, what a triumph for you to be at a point in your life to be able to say that you don't wear masks anymore! It takes much awareness, insight, and trust in oneself to be at the point in life where you are. Congratulations! And you are right--we can always tell when others are being authentic. It is particularly those types of people that I am drawn to and that I want to be around. Those in your circle are blessed to have you in their presence! Thank you for sharing the good news with us and many blessings to you. :) @ Liv: Hi! You bring up a great point about how all those women were probably wearing their ‘masks,’ too. It seems that there is a big force, externally, which encourages us to play the game, fit in, etc. I feel it often, and felt a little “victory” recently when I chose to wear jeans to a funeral. I felt more like “me” in those jeans and it’s what I needed to do. It was still tough when I saw others in dresses and suits, but more importantly, it felt good that I left the mask at home. Thanks for joining in the conversation and for your thought-provoking comment.

@ Anna: Fantastic insight! You are so right about how we diminish who we are when we wear those masks…and how we also feel less valued. I never thought about how we actually “believe” the masks that we see others wear. Yes, we begin to believe in a story about others that is untrue. Love your idea about our lights shining through, which makes the masks completely unnecessary! We all must focus on our lights and letting them shine. Thanks, Anna!

@ Mark: Wow, what a triumph for you to be at a point in your life to be able to say that you don’t wear masks anymore! It takes much awareness, insight, and trust in oneself to be at the point in life where you are. Congratulations! And you are right–we can always tell when others are being authentic. It is particularly those types of people that I am drawn to and that I want to be around. Those in your circle are blessed to have you in their presence! Thank you for sharing the good news with us and many blessings to you. :)

]]> By: Mark http://www.followingyourjoy.com/letting-life-happen/what%e2%80%99s-the-mask-you%e2%80%99re-wearing/comment-page-1#comment-2248 Mark Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:46:46 +0000 http://www.followingyourjoy.com/?p=1507#comment-2248 I can't tell you what a joy it is to receive your updates and this one was particularly pertinent. When I read this post, I realized something new about me. I don't wear masks anymore. Well, maybe in awkward social situations or other unique circumstances. But I don't wear them in everyday life like I used to. I really like myself and want to share my authentic self with others. I LOVE it when they feel comfortable enough to do the same with me. And can't we all tell when people are being authentic? I don't know when I got the courage to take off the masks and deal with the consequences, but it feels good to have a name for it. We need more 'Bringers of Joy' in this world. I can’t tell you what a joy it is to receive your updates and this one was particularly pertinent.

When I read this post, I realized something new about me. I don’t wear masks anymore. Well, maybe in awkward social situations or other unique circumstances. But I don’t wear them in everyday life like I used to. I really like myself and want to share my authentic self with others. I LOVE it when they feel comfortable enough to do the same with me. And can’t we all tell when people are being authentic? I don’t know when I got the courage to take off the masks and deal with the consequences, but it feels good to have a name for it.

We need more ‘Bringers of Joy’ in this world.

]]> By: Anna http://www.followingyourjoy.com/letting-life-happen/what%e2%80%99s-the-mask-you%e2%80%99re-wearing/comment-page-1#comment-2240 Anna Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:26:46 +0000 http://www.followingyourjoy.com/?p=1507#comment-2240 As I was reading this, I began to think about the view from inside the mask. When we wear our masks, who we really are is diminished. We feel less valued than others. We see others with their masks on & start believing their masks, that they are better people than we are. We push our selves down so far & deep that it seems impossible to climb out of the pit to reach our true selves. However when we catch a glimpse of the light at the top, it makes the climb out seem much easier. As we get closer to our true selves as God created us, our light starts shining from inside and soon we discover that we can take our masks off! How much easier would life be without the masks?? How about relationships?? Great post Michelle! As I was reading this, I began to think about the view from inside the mask.

When we wear our masks, who we really are is diminished. We feel less valued than others.

We see others with their masks on & start believing their masks, that they are better people than we are. We push our selves down so far & deep that it seems impossible to climb out of the pit to reach our true selves.

However when we catch a glimpse of the light at the top, it makes the climb out seem much easier. As we get closer to our true selves as God created us, our light starts shining from inside and soon we discover that we can take our masks off!

How much easier would life be without the masks?? How about relationships??

Great post Michelle!

]]> By: Liv @ Choosing Beauty http://www.followingyourjoy.com/letting-life-happen/what%e2%80%99s-the-mask-you%e2%80%99re-wearing/comment-page-1#comment-2237 Liv @ Choosing Beauty Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:18:35 +0000 http://www.followingyourjoy.com/?p=1507#comment-2237 Beautiful, Michelle! I remember wearing that mask to work myself. I remember noticing how all the women - hundreds of them - at my workplace seemed to all know the "right" clothes/colors/patterns to wear and all seemed stick-thin. It was like working with zombies! And, looking back, I realize many or most of them probably were wearing their masks, too. I wonder what would happen if they all just wore to work whatever reflected their spirits - would i have then seen jeans, flowing skirts, beads, sparkles? Thanks for this reminder! Beautiful, Michelle! I remember wearing that mask to work myself. I remember noticing how all the women – hundreds of them – at my workplace seemed to all know the “right” clothes/colors/patterns to wear and all seemed stick-thin. It was like working with zombies! And, looking back, I realize many or most of them probably were wearing their masks, too. I wonder what would happen if they all just wore to work whatever reflected their spirits – would i have then seen jeans, flowing skirts, beads, sparkles? Thanks for this reminder!

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