Halloween is upon us- a time where we receive a “free pass” to be someone else for an evening. You watch people who typically live average lives turn into ghosts, princesses, witches, nurses, or zombies (you can pick which adjective to put in front of them). We get energy in pretending to be someone else, maybe someone we would never want to be, maybe someone we kind of wish we were.
As we work to develop a new skill or manage our style in a different way it can feel like we are wearing a mask. A coworker has been working on managing her style in meetings and the result has been awkward and clunky. But she has been putting on a mask she doesn’t usually wear and trying to see if she could get used to it. The longer she practices with the mask on, the more natural the behavior will be. Putting on a mask doesn’t mean you have actually changed- but it does mean you look different and it does give you the ability to feel different. Only you get to decide if that mask becomes part of who you are moving forward.
As you put on your mask this Halloween I ask you to take a moment of intention: who are you trying to be? What parts of yourself have you been covering up and why?
It can be fun to pretend for an evening, but make sure that no matter what mask you wear, you are holding true to your values, your beliefs, and your purpose.
I agree with your thoughts about how to hold true to yourself even though you might be wearing a mask. The only thing I want to make note of is that unless it is Halloween other people don’t even know you are wearing a mask. So if that is the mask you are wearing embrace it as if it is real. Only then will you be able to see the impact and effect you are trying to make because you and everyone will believe.