“Selecting one’s own facade is the initial voluntary human gesture. And it’s a solitary one.” – Clarice Lispector
Are you truly who you portray yourself to be, or is it just another mask, enclosing you in a self-imposed cage? If these questions have piqued your interest, welcome to the club.
In a world filled with diverse individuals pursuing different ambitions and grappling with distinct problems, there is an underlying similarity we all unknowingly share. It’s the art of concealing reality to present an artificial, sugar-coated version of our lives. In one way or another, we strive to showcase ourselves as the best project to the world. Life becomes an assignment, and we begin working on it when the deadline is looming. It may be messy and chaotic, but no one needs to know. We are busy embellishing the front page with glitters and sparkles, adding glossy tape to the edges to capture attention. Unfortunately, we often forget about the binder that clasps us so tightly, making escape seemingly impossible. We may be suffocating, drowning in the sparkle we’ve laid out, but from a distance, it looks fancy.
Labels abound for nearly everything we do or feel. People mask their insecurities using socially acceptable terms and behaviors. The fear of betrayal or judgment is concealed beneath the quiet “introvert” mask. A rigid and tough facade for those who once felt helpless to the point of fearing vulnerability. An ignorant mask for those abandoned by loved ones. An “isolation” mask for those who now flee situations because they once failed to escape a circumstance that could have spared them significant trouble and pain.
Or perhaps, have we evolved? Reprogrammed some emotions to be felt differently? Responding to weaknesses in unconventional ways without compromising our dignity. But the million-dollar question remains: Are you at peace? When your mind wanders, where does it go? Do you regret layering your life like a delicious but overwhelming lasagna? We rename our sentiments, presenting them delicately, but is it meant to be this challenging? Escaping the nightmare where you convince yourself you’re fine because not being fine doesn’t “suit your personality” is tough. Asking for help is perceived as an assault on your self-respect. Is the battle you endlessly fight in your head worth it? Your ego might be intact, but is your soul at peace?
Have you ever shed tears in front of somebody? Exclude your family members. Have you cried in front of somebody? Why is crying in front of someone so challenging when laughing is effortless? Why is one emotion deemed natural and beautiful while the other is considered unimpressive? Who assigned such distinct values when both emotions stem from the same root? Every heart feels it. What’s the big deal? Numerous unanswered questions linger because people seldom explore life behind the mask.
No matter how hard you try, you cannot escape your past or pain. You can lock it within your heart until it explodes, or you can let it overflow once and for all. The former may appear decent, but the latter can extinguish it forever. The right way to deal with emotions is by acknowledging them. Accept your pain, accept your faults, and make peace with your past. It doesn’t make you any less human. Once you shed your masked reality, you gain entry to a long-lost, sorted life where emotions are not bottled with misleading labels.
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