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February 05, 2007
We Wear the Mask (29)
In the poem We Wear the Mask the author, Paul Laurence Dunbar, talks about how we put on a “mask” to hide our true feelings. We may feel sad, lonely, happy, excited, tired, disturbed, etc., but for some reason we choose not to express these emotions. Maybe it is because someone else we know is hurting and we do not want to show our happiness; therefore, we share in their sadness. Maybe we are sad and we do not want anyone to know so we hide behind our smile. What masks have you worn? What masks are you wearing? Why do you put these masks on? What effect did wearing this mask have on your day? What effect did you see it have on others?
Posted by Elizabeth Lensing at February 5, 2007 08:22 AM | The Body Eclectic
Comments
I think of a Kurt Vonnegut saying, that asks us to be careful what we pretend to be.... It seems we all wear masks, and sometimes our very job in life bears mask-like qualities. WHat do teachers sound like, look like, act like? We internalize these notions of what a teacher is and translate it to our own daily interpretation. I guess in some ways masks also protect us, keeping our vulnerability to a minimum. We can use masks in both good and not so good ways. Masks have an appeal. They allow us to belie our very identities and mantle others.
Posted by: Mary Wright at February 14, 2007 05:31 PM
I also believe that Vonnegut is asking us to be aware of what we pretend to be or what we pretend not to be. I consider myself a pleasent person who is often smiling and happy with life, but I am also guilty of wearing a mask at times when I am upset, sad, or scared inside in order to protect myself. Perhaps, it's a fear of rejection from others who may not be able to relate. However, wearing masks have both effected me both positively and negatively. For instance, holding your true emotions bottled up inside is not a healthy way of coping with ones feelings. Other the other hand, sometimes showing signs of strength and courage on the outside can not only change your true feelings on the inside, but may also have a more postive effect on others around you.
Posted by: Megan Anderson at March 4, 2007 09:27 PM
I have worn many masks throughout my lifetime. I use them to hide my feelings. They can make it appear I am happy, full of courage, not stressed out, and many others, when in fact I am sad, scared, and stressed out beyond belief. I'm not really sure why people wear masks. Maybe it's because they think it will help. I have found that it helps more when you show how you truely are.
Posted by: Amanda Green at May 2, 2007 06:37 PM
I have many masks that I have worn, and I have noticed the impact it can have. I usually wear masks at work, where I need to be friendly and chipper even when I am sad or angry or stressed. Sometimes it is a lot of work to wear a mask, because there you are hiding your true feelings. Usually when I am wearing a mask, other people don't know it, and they just see me as what I am trying to be, which usually makes them happy.
Posted by: Heather Sirois at May 3, 2007 05:36 PM
I have worn masks to make myself feel more confident around other people. I sometimes feel that if people saw the real, complete me, that they wouldn't really like me. I realize that sounds childish and insecure, but I think that we all feel that way sometimes, deep down inside, even if we know in our heads that it's not true.
Posted by: Sarah Stewart at May 5, 2007 01:28 PM
We often wear mask because of fear of rejection. We hide our emotions to other people in the fear of rejection. Though there are other reasons why we wear a mask, fear of rejection should be avoided.
Fear of rejection may lead us to pretension. We pretend that we are like someone else that we are not for people to accept us. But wouldn't it be better if they accept you for who you are? Because if that mask you wear gets off of you, people might even reject you more. Not because of showing your true self, but because of wearing a mask.
Posted by: Fear of Rejection at May 30, 2007 12:36 PM
When we want to be someone else we wear a mask. But of course it makes it more ineffective because we are not being realistic. You also communicate ineffectively because the way you communicate is not real.
Instead of wearing a mask, we should learn how to love ourself and work out our communication skills. Being able to communicate effectively means communicating the truth.
Posted by: Conversation Skills at September 12, 2007 05:59 PM
Masks are good things to wear because they allow us to focus in ways that self-liberate. My anger mask helps me see what is wrong, my happy mask allows me to see the good in life, but who I become is what my masks allow me to filter into myself. Without my masks, I am without being or becoming.
Posted by: Charley Settles at November 15, 2007 11:13 AM
Masks can be used both negatively and positively. Using a mask in a positive way is preferable, of course.
Better use the Sedona Method if you are planning to wear a mask in the negative way. The Sedona Method helps you with your emotional wellness. With this, you don't have to wear a mask anymore because you can already eliminate those negative forces in you.
Posted by: sedona method at April 9, 2008 12:24 PM