The Masks We Wear
- Writing
- Iman Nouis
The Masks We Wear
Myth: As a little girl, I learned that always keeping a smile on my face and an upbeat and cheerful personality, would make people love and accept me and that I will furthermore be part of the “good people”. Good people are successful and admirable. Successful people always make everything look good and don’t get overwhelmed. I made the choice then, to be successful. Successful people are professional people ; Professional people know how to separate work and “life” at all times. They are driven by achievement and their masks display a bright and perfect smile.
Truth: We live life as whole human beings ; Our personal and professional lives are inevitably intertwined and therefore difficult to fully separate ; especially when adversity hits. Many professional development courses encourage us to be authentic to succeed ; In reality, we are received and liked in our authenticity, when we can still get ourselves together and defy all odds and most importantly deliver without whining or flinching. Wearing a mask has been the unspoken expectation .Yes, in fact, our masks could be transparent, but it doesn’t stop us from wearing them, and from expecting others around us to do so for the sake of politeness and professionalism, even if the process leaves a toll on us.
Conclusion: The truth is that duality conveys that every aspect of life is created from a balanced interaction of opposite and competing powers. These forces are not just opposites; they are complementary. These opposites simply balance each other like the dual wings of a butterfly. I am a spirit and a body, I cry and I laugh, I bleed and I heal, I am the teacher and the student, I am strong and I am weak, I breathe life, but I also died a thousand times, I am kind and I am also harsh, I fail and I achieve, I lose and I win, I am love and I am hate, I am peace and war.
I am thankful for this sacred journey of truth, support, love and vulnerability wrapped in colors and textures and glue and glitter. I now know more than ever that my breakdowns will lead to my breakthroughs with the use of optimal tools.
-An Unmasked Empath
- Subject Matter: Text
- Current Location: Hamilton Gallery