The Masks We Wear
The masks we wear.
The faces we present to the world.
We all wear masks or have faces that we present.
“The Japanese say we have three faces. The first face, you show to the world. The second face, you show to your close friends and family. The third face, you never show anyone. It is the truest reflection of who you are.”
- Unknown
We all wear masks. They come in many different shapes, sizes, colors, combinations, flexibilities, and depths. They also come with different levels of attachment that we have to them. The quote above is impactful. It speaks to how we have evolved in the world. We have different faces or masks, and which one we decide to wear depends on the situation. Then we come to the last line, which acknowledges the face we never show anyone. That true self that we protect and guard and don’t show to people. The true self that is also beautiful in all of its facets, whether we think it is or not. Our inner critic and potentially any other ideas we have adopted from the world around us may tell us it isn’t, so we guard and protect.
Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology, provides another perspective that we may want to consider.
“The persona is a complicated system of relations between the individual consciousness and society, fittingly enough a kind of mask, designed on the one hand to make a definite impression upon others, and, on the other, to conceal the true nature of the individual.“
- Jung
What Jung is speaking about is how we develop our personalities so that we not only stay connected to our nature, but so that we also adapt and engage with the social and environmental demands that constantly surround us. The adaptations that we make are what Jung called the persona. Again, we come across the theme of how we interact with the world and how we connect to ourselves.
Wearing masks, having a persona, or presenting a different face at different times can serve a purpose. Below are just two examples.
Protection - Not all situations may be safe, and we must protect ourselves.
Adaptation - We all grow up in unique environments, and we grow and adapt to our environment.
Then there are times when wearing masks, having a persona, or presenting a different face to the world can be problematic.
When We Use the Wrong Mask - Since we have many different masks or faces that we use in different situations, we may use the wrong mask accidentally or intentionally. The consequences could be hurtful to the people around us and/or to ourselves because we become misaligned with the people and the situation.
When We Become Rigid - Sometimes, we can become rigid with our masks or faces and lose our ability to be flexible. Being rigid causes us to lose connection with others and ourselves and hinders the ability to shift with changing circumstances.
Identification With and/or We Ignore Our True Self - We can become so attached to our masks or faces, whether for survival, comfort, or concealment, that we lose touch with our true selves. While being vulnerable can be scary, that is where we find a true connection. Note of caution. If we are in a place where we need to focus on survival, then maybe we need to acknowledge this identification and find support.
White masks on the ground.
Take Action Today Moment:
Explore the masks/faces that you show to the world! This can be done through writing, a conversation with a family member, or in another creative manner. You can draw the different faces. You can go to a craft store, find cheap masks, and paint them. No matter what method you take, pay attention to how you respond to each mask when you reflect on them. Then explore more of the characteristics of each mask. Do the masks have names? Do they have a particular character? Do they have a particular language or vocabulary? Do they have movement patterns? You will be surprised at what you learn.
During this process, please remember to honor your true self as well. It is always there, and it needs your attention as well.