To the girl putting on a smile even when you don't feel like sunshine and rainbows.

To the guy saying everything is great even when it's all falling apart.

To anyone who feels the need to put on a mask every day.

This one's for you.

One of the scariest things we can ever choose to do is be SEEN. To be vulnerable is to let someone in on all of who we are. Yup, all of it!

I'm talking about the messy parts of us we keep locked inside a closet hoping no one tries to see. I'm talking about the skeletons we have stored inside. We put on a mask and pretend because it seems easier than spilling our guts out.

In the last six months, I feel as if though I've worn many different masks. There's been one to hide just how afraid I am of my uncertain future. Another mask tells everyone just how positive and strong I am. I have a mask that attempts to hide every single one of my flaws and insecurities.

Having practiced the art of performance, I've been known to juggle these masks and switch from one facade to another in a matter of seconds. Sometimes you're two different people at the same exact time and you're finding it hard to find the balance between who you are and who you're pretending to be.

It's this very human struggle of embracing authenticity but resisting vulnerability.

It's not that we're afraid to be seen.

We want to be seen. We all secretly want that mask to come off because keeping up appearances is exhausting. We silently pray for someone to care enough to try and open our messy closet. In fact, we want to be brave enough to be vulnerable. The thought is terrifying, but we want to be seen!

It's just that we're afraid once we're seen, no one will care.

Because we're so afraid of rejection, we'd rather put in the work to keep up this bright, joyful attitude than be honest.

Sure, vulnerability is difficult. But it must be easier than keeping up the appearance that everything is alright. Carrying the weight of multiple different moods and faces just makes your internal struggle worse and you can't live behind the masks forever.

Sooner or later, you're going to lose it!

But when you take the leap of faith and tell one person, they start to take off their mask as well. Slowly, together, you start tearing down the wall between the two of you and you start building an honest, authentic friendship. Not only that, but you realize you're not alone.

So ladies and gentleman, whoever you are, take one brave moment and just start by letting in ONE person. Remove those masks and let yourself be seen.

Let someone else see that the ray of sunshine and the colors of your rainbow are dimming.

Let them see that life isn't as good as you always say it is and ask for help.

Take off the masks and let yourself be seen.