Everyone has their own set of masks. There are some that we wear often, the ones that showcase the best parts of us and conceal whatever darkness lies in our hearts. Other masks we rarely ever take out. I imagine these masks in the back of a closet, laden with spider webs and dust. Then, there are the masks that are never seen. The masks we don’t even allow ourselves to see. These are the things that we push down somewhere deep inside ourselves, hoping that they become some sort of silent, vestigial organ.
However, the truth about these masks is that they cannot remain hidden forever. In a metaphorical sense, we find these masks when we “clean out our closets". We forget how important these masks are in the shaping of us and we realize these masks are integrated into our bare selves. The things we bury down deep inside and the things that become embedded in our skin; the things we eventually cannot hide.
As I try to become aware of what these things are that I wish to hide, I realize that they really do shape my mindset and my actions. The darkness I have faced in my life will never fully be gone. The best thing I can do is learn to turn that darkness into light.
Even so, I, like all humans, make mistakes. And while I can’t blame all my mistakes on the things of my past and my personal circumstances, I can draw insight as to why I may react or think the way I do in these mishaps. And sometimes, when I feel very brave, I can reach way back in my closet and retrieve my hidden masks and temporarily expose myself so that others can understand.
For example, I have depression and anxiety. It’s something I’ve had to deal with for a long time now and it can produce irrational thoughts and make me sometimes respond to things in ways that are not characteristically me. Without knowing of my mental health issues, some people may criticize the way I act or feel, saying that I am “freaking out” or “being a spaz” or “being negative”. But when I explain myself, when I explain what I’ve experienced in my life and the conditions I’ve been handed, I notice that people become so much more forgiving and much more understanding.
I have this theory that if everyone constantly wore their hidden mask, then the world would be a much nicer place. But then I realize, if we are all aware that everyone else has a hidden mask, there is no need to wear it. Because we all know that everyone has one. I have not met a single person that has not faced some adversity in their life. Just as there cannot be day without night, there cannot be light without darkness.
There is duality in mankind. We have a positive energy that goes with our negative energy. We have hopefulness with our hopelessness. Curiosity with our fear. So why are some people so quick to forget that just as one has experienced adversity and hardship, so has the other?
Everyone is dealt a certain hand of cards when we enter this life. It’s impossible for us to get the same card in the same suit over and over because each card is uniquely its own. There is only one queen of hearts in a deck, only one ace of spades. Life isn’t all one suit. No one has a perfect hand. No one has a perfect life.
In a perfect world, everyone would be understanding of one another and would be more willing to forgive and understand. Most people would call this wishful thinking and laugh, but I don’t see it that way. The concept is simple; look outwardly as you do inwardly. Realize that our cards all come from the same deck, our masks are connected and that our struggles, while unique, never appear in only one person.
We shouldn’t need to have someone explain all of their darkness in order to understand them. We shouldn’t be so quick to judge. I have come to realize that people act and think in certain ways for reasons. The meanest people are often the most in need of love. The most negative people are in the most need of positivity. It’s as simple a concept as saying that the people who are the hungriest are most in need of food.
As I have said in my other articles, I am not perfect. I, too, judge much too quickly sometimes. I snap and become less forgiving than I should be. But now that I know what masks I’m hiding, I am more aware of the masks others may be hiding.
As soon as we are able to realize that everyone has baggage, everyone has masks, we will be able to live in a world where no masks are needed. Where our most authentic selves can shine.
