Being our Trueself

In today’s reality, it seems like it gets harder to live the true us. Every one of us carries a mask or a set of masks when we leave home. The society is like a masquerade party. We don’t really lift off the masks until we are home.

It is common that depending on the crowd we are in, we put on different mask so that we are accepted. We may deny to say we don’t but (really), we do. You see, this world comprises of billions of people, it is understandable that not everyone can accept us as who we are. Even if we think there are those who are able to accept us – it is still not the full authentic us, because there is always a tiny bit of us that people cannot jive with - no matter how close the relationship is. Likewise, ask ourselves, can we accept the others wholly as that person? You don’t have to answer so fast - ponder upon that question.

Undoubtedly, there is constant judgement and labelling on how we speak, act and behave.

For one group of people, we could be outspoken, for another group, we may be too quiet, and then for the other group we are just fine, and the list goes on.

Sometimes, when we lay down at the end of the day, don’t we wonder who have we been today? Who are we?

If we are one who say things as it is, we are called being too frank that we are insensitive about the feelings of others.

If we are one who stays private with our life, we are said to be secretive.

If we stand up for unfairness and injustice, we are said to be a troublemaker.

And the most common one,

If we are quiet, we are labelled as weak.

In some sense, no matter what it is, someone is going to see us with the lens they are so accustomed to. And the funny part is, we are required to fit into those lens … just to survive.

Especially, in a social environment, we commonly betray ourselves by putting on a mask that suits that crowd so we fit in and be welcomed. If we walk bare-naked which is the true us, I reckon no one would want to say hello to us. Probably, that is why not many are willing to write it as it is or be who we are as ourselves – especially when we put ourselves out there.

Take a look at our favourite performers, celebrities and now those we familiarly known as influencers.

They play the role of an entertainer mostly. Although it is a profession; what's unfortunate is that sometimes, these category of people who are constantly on the onset of the society could have no opportunity to hold down the masks they have on to just BE. To be their true self.

This relates to some influencers, too who are creating content for entertainment purposes.

There are great expectations on the celebrities, entertainers or performers from the way they talk & behave, how they are expected to maintained their physique through crazy strict diet so they always look emaculate. They are constantly living on other people’s expectation for their profession, the same as having to wear different masks almost the whole time. So, when are these masks taken off?

Sometimes, as celebrities and entertainers, I feel they may cling on too tightly to the roles they play in the movie, drama - and for the influencers, they may be too attached to the content that they show to the outside world; where these roles are mostly scripted and orchestrated the way that wins audiences, followers, fans – and most times to be praised and validated of its greatness.

Similarly for us, sometimes in order to fit in, we wear all the different masks for survival and gradually, these different masks get stacked up upon one another. In the end, we may have lose ourselves in the hive of personalities. We forget who we are because we are obligated to live on a certain personality or personalities, which is not us.

The good news is nothing is too late when we choose to gradually shed the masks we have on. The bad news is, it takes a lot of effort, starting with having to ascertain who you really are.

And how do we do that?

By being comfortable in our own skin. Yes – it’s that simple but it does take effort.

Try this, look ourselves in the mirror. Stare at ourselves and ask is this the person we truly know or is that the person we show off to the world? You’ll find the answer.

With billions of people in this world, none is a clone of the other, the world certainly requires all the different us to make a wholesome humankind.

As we think highly of ourselves, we also like to remind ourselves that, no one is born perfect, it's always a nice mix of positives & negatives.

So go for the search, reinstate your goodself!

As I end this writing, I’ll leave you with a closing question to ponder,

Have we forgotten ourselves as we entertain the outside world or busy being someone else?

Sending blessings to everyone, wherever you are & Take care of your good self.

Good luck in the search!