Hiding behind the many masks!

I love Halloween, although I am not a fan of being frightened. At this time of year we are surrounded by masks, playful, spooky, dramatic. But what about the many masks we wear every day?

The polished professional mask.
The “I’m fine” mask.
The people pleaser, the perfectionist, the always in control.

We wear them to feel safe. To fit in. To protect ourselves from judgment, rejection, or vulnerability. But over time, these masks can become heavy. They blur the lines between who we are and who we think we should be and we all wear them.

So I want to invite you to pause and ask yourself a few questions.

• What am I hiding behind?
• What am I afraid others might see?
• What would it feel like to be fully seen, by myself and by others?

A little quote for you

“We all wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.”

André Berthiaume

It’s not about ripping off the mask, this can be too much, it’s about gently loosening it. Getting curious. Reconnecting with the self beneath the performance, when we hide and perform we are usually covering up our insecurities. My hope is that the following 5 tips can help you peel away the masks gently.

5 Ways to Begin Unmasking with Confidence

1. Notice Your Masks
   Pay attention to when you shift personas. What roles do you play? Who are you trying to protect?
2. Name the Fear
   Is it fear of rejection? Of not being enough? Of being too much? Naming it is the first step to disarming it.
3. Practice Micro Bravery
   Share a truth. Say no. Let someone see the real you in a small, safe way. Confidence grows through action.
4. Step Into the Light
   Where are you dimming your light to stay comfortable? What part of you is longing to be seen?
5. Get Support
   You don’t have to do this alone. Coaching can help you explore your masks with compassion and build the courage to live unfiltered.

Many things may have come up while reading the above, but remember, you are not too much. You are not too little. We all hide our true self at times and with this in mind I have included a few further journaling prompts that might help you go even deeper. Find a time to come back to these and get curious about what you might uncover.

Journaling Prompts

1. What mask do I wear most often, and what does it protect me from?
   Explore the role this mask plays in your life. What fear is it shielding you from?
2. When do I feel safe enough to take off the mask?
   Reflect on the people, places, or moments where you feel most authentic.
3. What part of me is longing to be seen, and what small step can I take to honour it?
   Consider one way you can show up more fully, even if it feels vulnerable.

If you want to explore these further then please just drop me a message @ zena@zenascoaching.com

Finally one more little quote that I wanted to add in here because it is so powerful.

"We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others, that in the end, we become disguised to ourselves.”

François de La Rochefoucauld