It’s Halloween night! I’m having fun passing out candy and seeing all the children in their costumes. This night always brings me back to a conversation I had many years ago with a mentor of mine. Chris it’s ok to play Halloween once in awhile. I knew what she meant.
As part of the process of finding one’s true-self we disguise ourselves in the roles we play in life. From our up-bringing, in my case son, older brother, athlete, average student – to an adult father, uncle, entrepreneur, writer, yogi. These are the roles I play in my game of life and I want to play them to the best of my ability and continue to grow. However, there were many times in my life and I’m sure in yours too that we put on that mask and hide our beautiful true-self from the world either to please others in our life or were to afraid to share our light. Or we don’t even know who we truly are!
In my case its been all of them. Lots of inner work- real work to breakthrough these barriers. Now its ok to play trick or treat once in awhile with family, business and social activities. The key is to be who you truly are in the process and not sacrifice that part of you for someone else. Again this is the game of life.
How many times in was it Halloween in my life? For many years it was everyday not knowing at all who I was. With my family I played the role I was born into and played it well not wanting to stir up any noise and always keep the peace. In business I played this one perfectly early on, taking on the mantra “whatever it takes“ until my soul got so depleted I had no choice to leave it all and reinvent myself as The Humble Warrior. Then all the social functions that I was apart of led me to put on that Mask with alcohol. Why? Because I was miserable playing all these roles in life and not being my true-self in the process. The boring conversations that did nothing for me, the gossiping of others which is poison to the soul and I was in the middle of it. Who is to blame for all this? ME.
Ah the gift of change! One can take the mask off anytime – its take courage. Once you make the change everything will shift, give it a shot if you want to take off the mask. Be kind, compassionate, loving and patient with yourself during this process. For the time will come that you will live and breath these traits with everyone. Your family, your business and social functions will be loving and fun again. Maybe not all the time, then I choose to play Halloween.
My costume this year. ME!
Live Brave,
Chris
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Photo courtesy of author
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1 Comment on "Take Off the Mask"
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it’s 2016. If you are still wearing that illusive mask, you are doing so of your on volition as no one cares anymore, least of all other men.
Take it off, that shit will kill ya.