"Lay down the mask and give up trying to look perfect. It's like a bald man with a bad toupe'; you're not fooling anyone anyway." - Patrick Means
I love this quote above. It could not be any more precise in its meaning.
Interestingly enough when reaching a successful point in laying down one mask, I noticed there was another one right underneath waiting to be let go.
What I have learned in my "mask wearing" has been that I felt I needed to be someone else to seek approval. I was emotionally hurt growing up. I am sure you can relate.
I was not satisfied and extremely scared with being myself. Who God created me to be. Would you accept the real me? Only because being myself felt shame, guilt, anger, condemnation, fear, etc.
The hurt I suffered growing up distorted the real me. I needed a way to survive. So hiding the real me in order to protect what little was left of my heart, I would revert to pretending to be whoever you wanted me to be.
I became pretty good at faking and protecting my pain that was stuffed and walled up around my heart. There was no way you were going to see it, let alone get to it back then. I was so dead on the inside. A walking shell as I would describe myself later on.
So, although I may not fit in according to the world's standards, who I am today is more honest and real than ever before. Most masks have come down. I may have one waiting in the wings, only because I have not dealt with something as of yet. In time God's healing love will find that mask as well and discard it.
yes....in time...He makes ALL things beautiful in His time. You've come a long way! carry on, dear soul.
ReplyDeletepatrina <")>><
JBR, God doesn't ask us to 'fit in', He wants us to be just as He made us. If we 'try' to fit in we could end up being hypocritical and not at all feeling happy with what we are trying to be. If we don't feel happy with something it is best to try to explain why we feel like we do to people. If we speak with 'soft words' people may understand more. We are what we are for a purpose. It is good that you are now, with God's help, breaking out of that shell and realizing there is no reason to put on a mask. God bless you for sharing it with others that may be feeling the same.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I so appreciate about God's love for us is that He sees through all our masks, down to the worst shortcomings we are trying to hide, and He loves us extravagantly just the same.
ReplyDeletePeople hide behind all kinds of masks; I think in England we do it a lot. People from poor and lower class backgrounds pretend to be from richer and influential backgrounds, and now sometimes people who have grown up affluent and as we say posh sometimes pretend to be from more humble origins. I don't know why. God made us as we are for a purpose; I can only pray He sees the real me...
ReplyDeleteWe all hide behind some kind of mask, I think. I know that I, like you, wore many, and for the same reason you wore yours. I can't say every one of the masks has come off, but most of them have. God is helping me with the remaining ones. Soon I will be the woman he wanted me to be. I'm so grateful to know and understand how GREATLY God loves us all. Than you for sharing. Your blog blesses many, I'm sure. Have an awesome day.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, love this.
ReplyDeleteI can so so SO relate to this, friend,
ReplyDeleteand may I just say
that your own true face
is loved and lovely:)
-Jennifer
Wow, this was so good. I'm still not sure who the real me is, but God is helping me each day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being brave! I wish more people would be real!
ReplyDeletePraising God for such awesome progress! He is so good to us! Many blessings!
ReplyDeleteWould you accept the real me? I think that sums up why we wear our masks and of course to survive. It takes a brave person to take off their mask or masks. Yet how freeing, healing to be able to do so. Thank you for being such an inspiration Just Be Real, Safe Hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteI can SO relate to this post, JBR. It's like peeling away the layers of an onion. Feeling so much shame about my mental illness caused me to retreat and hide myself behind a fake smile. Little by little, I have become more comfortable with who I am. Ironically, as I've opened myself up to others, I've also enjoyed better mental health. Maybe there is a connection there?
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I may not be like everyone else, but I've learned to embrace that now.
Sometimes it takes real courage to show your real self JBR bu t one can do it
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post, Grace, and I can very much relate to your words here. I wish everyone in the world would lay down their masks and just be
ReplyDeletereal.
Hugs!