Gina Keeping is a Life and Business Mentor with a mission to empower women to create a life of clarity, confidence, and intent. View profile
It’s time to take off the masks
As women, we wear so many masks. Each mask represents a “self” that we feel we need to bring to the table. Mother. Wife. Teacher. Business Woman. Sister. People Pleaser. Fixer Upper. Best Friend. Knower of ALL Things. You get where I am going with this. Every single one of us wears a mask and struggles to show up as our true, authentic self.
For many, we have been acting for so long that we really don’t know anymore who our TRUE self is.
Sure, we hold a work title. But that isn’t who we are, it is what we do. You may be a mother, but it is not who you are. You may be a wife, but there is so much more to your amazing self.
Just think about it for a moment and honestly ask yourself, “Who am I?” What if I told you are not allowed to use the title you hold? Can you still answer it?
Do you keep coming back to WHAT it is you do rather than WHO you are?
Most people can’t answer that question. Many have no idea how to start discovering who they are and then authentically stepping up to the plate and allowing their quirks, uniqueness and awesome self to be seen.
Why? Why do women find it so hard to be vulnerable? To show their flaws. To be real. To be authentic.
The bottom line comes down to the fear of being judged. In fact, this is the killer of most dreams. The thing that holds you in place as if your feet are cemented to the ground. The thing that keeps you up all night feeling stuck. The thing that makes it impossible to know who you are because, as one mask comes off, another one has to go right back on.
So what do you do with this?
You start by slowly taking off your masks. It starts with saying no to things that don’t serve you and that don’t align with who you are. It starts by peeling back some layers and doing inner work. It involves letting go of the expectations that others put on you. It means going against the grain and blurring the lines. It involves believing in yourself enough to look deeper and to decide to GO FOR IT. It is being willing to be ok with others not liking you. It means stepping up, finding time for you, and filling your cup.
You do this by taking one step at a time. You do this by learning, growing, and moving forward, even if you stumble 3 steps backwards.
You do this by refusing to quit and refusing to wear masks that cover up your awesomeness.
You do this by refusing to conform for anyone and, instead, really owning all of who you are, the good, the bad, and the messy.
You do this by being vulnerable.
You do this by slowly coming back to yourself. By staying in the present and diving into the work that allows you to block out all the noise and look within.
I know it sounds corny, and like something right from a greeting card, but the truth really does lie within.
As you start to peel back the layers and get in tune with who you are, this is where the magic happens. This is where confidence is born. Where resilience is solidified, and you slowly but surely discover you again.
The unpopular opinion of it all is that you are in control. You get to choose if you keep wearing the masks. If you keep conforming. If you keep settling. AND you get to choose if you have enough. If you are going to stop pointing the finger and take back your power. This is something only YOU can do.
Your story can only be written by YOU. Only you can decide your ending and how you are going to live. It’s time to take off the masks and finally let your amazing self be seen. To let go of the expectations of others. To promise never to silence your authentic self again by wearing masks that were designed by society and those around you. Your sparkle is too dang precious to be dimmed by the many masks you have been wearing, because you are so much more than that.
You are beautiful. You are amazing. You are fierce. You are capable. YOU ARE ENOUGH.
It is time to get rid of the mask and shine that beautiful light of yours.
Are you with me?
Short Article Review
- Pointing out all the masks we wear in a run of the day
- Knowing who we are without the masks
- How to get rid of the masks
- Personal responsibility of moving forward
- It’s time to ditch the masks
The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, investment, financial or other advice. Always seek the advice of a licensed professional regarding any questions you may have.
The Post The Many Masks We Wear- Show Your True Self appeared first on Womanly Inspiration.
