The fact that October is the month of Halloween parties and festivities brings up a favorite subject.
Does a mask reveal you or conceal you? When we dress up, is our mask revealing a deep desire for how we want to see ourselves and the way we want others to see us?
We put on different masks all the time. One of the ways we can use our masks is when we want people to see us differently.
Have you ever decided to get a new haircut, shave, do your makeup differently, wear your favorite outfit or a different outfit when you are looking for new work?
How about when you are going out to meet someone new? Do you present yourself differently?
We wear a mask that represents where we want to go. Even though today, many offices and work places have relaxed dress codes, it is still a tell tale sign that someone is on the move when they suddenly change their look.
Our outer appearance then is reflecting our inner changes.
When our mask is what others see, what is behind the mask for us might be another aspect that we want to grow into. So when that comes forward, our old mask comes off and our new one goes on.
The two most common super powers that people wish they had are invisibility and the ability to fly. Masking is a way of becoming invisible.
The best costumes are the ones that conceal a person's true identity while projecting the visual aura they have constructed. In essence, they become invisible.
Perhaps that person in the beautiful dress imagines and feels that they are out for a romantic evening, and they act like it. That feeling is an experience they desire.
Perhaps that person wearing that funny hat and telling jokes really does want to be an entertainer, which is nothing like their day job. But how fun to be the entertainer for an evening and keep getting people to laugh. Feels good, doesn't it?
When people remember your costumes or masks for a long time, isn't that evidence that for one night, you convinced them that you were someone else? Is it possibly an indication that you could successfully become a different person?
Halloween costumes are a fabulous opportunity every year to not only have some fun but to see what it feels like to be someone else for a day.
Back in the days when Halloween customs originated, scary masks and lanterns were used to keep difficult or dangerous spirits away. And in keeping the unwanted spirits away then, just keeps the joyful spirits around us.
People who have to wear a uniform to work every day are wearing a sort of mask. If you wear a uniform at work every day, certain behaviors and certain looks are expected of you.
When we are making a presentation, and we are speaking to an audience, don't we often wear a different face and voice to communicate with our audience?
How do you want to be seen? When you dress for the Halloween party this month, who do you want to be? What persona do you want to try on?
The question of who we want to be is one that we reconsider at various points in our life.
One year I dressed as Braveheart and had the blue face paint and the color did not wash all out for several days, so everyone I met that week was doing double takes. Even the residue of the mask had them see me differently.
Did you ever have something like that happen to you? I love a good story, so go ahead and tell me yours.
I always love hearing from you, so if you feel like sending me a note, calling or coming to see me, please do!
Have a wonderful day!
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