In the realm of following your heart’s passion, I’ve noticed that when people do not feel safe to be themselves, they start to wear a mask. As you can imagine, wearing a mask is tiring; and wearing a mask when you are grappling with your heart’s passion is positively exhausting!So, why do some people choose to hide or mask their true self and deny their heart’s passion–especially, when showing up 100% as yourself and expressing your heart’s passion is the most direct path to happiness, inner peace and joy? I’ve observed five reasons, perhaps there are more:
Ouch!
About 25% of people choose not to express their heart’s passion because they feel that pursuing their dream is uncomfortable for them, for others, or both. This is where inner strength and a gallant spirit come in handy. The good news is that as with many things in life, discomfort often fades away with repeated exposure. So, if you find yourself in this category, small steps in the direction of your heart’s passion might just give you that extra boost of courage to show up in your life mask-free.
If not now … when?
For about 45% of people, the reason not to express a heart’s passion may be related to timing. This group wears a mask to hide an aspect of themselves that they do not wish to reveal to anyone, at least not yet. From my experience, I’ve found that “waiting for the right time” may be an excuse to procrastinate. If you are in this group, your sentences will be peppered with the words “I’ll do this when …” On an optimistic note, there are many ways to incorporate an aspect of your authentic self or heart’s dream into your life TODAY. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, and it is never too late in life to show up 100% as you.
Oops, curveball
About 15% of people wear a mask because their heart’s passion is not a convenient “fit” into a life that they have created and are heavily invested in. For example, a mainstream professional discovers that he has a burning passion for pantomime, not as a hobby, but as a life’s vocation—and just after investing time and money into education, lifestyle, and setting up an office. (Gasp!). Making a quick left turn when your life and identity are structured for a well-planned sashay to the right can be very unsettling, especially when you discover your heart’s passion is out-of-the-ordinary or unexpected. In this scenario, TRUST is essential.
Another option, please …About 10% of people wear a mask to hide their authentic selves because they don’t understand or “get” their heart’s passion. They may even feel quite invaded, as if their heart’s passion has chosen them, sometimes against their will. In essence, they are trying to talk themselves out of who they are, so as you can imagine, the self-talk on this journey can be quite funny.
After looking deeper, I’ve found that this scenario often shows up when a person’s heart’s passion is perceived as not being valued by society. On an up note, once a person can discern their value system and turn the volume up on their inner voice, the once de-valued heart’s passion becomes more attractive, and sometimes simply irresistible!
What if
About 5% of people get caught up in an endless cycle of thinking things over; just like a feedback loop. They live in their head and don’t pause long enough to connect with their heart. If you find yourself plagued with “what ifs”, followed by a generous helping of more “what ifs”, one of the best ways to center and connect with your authentic heartbeat is through physical activity.
Finally, if you are tired of wearing a mask to hide your authentic self or squishing down your heart’s passion, please ask yourself this question: “If I do not feel safe to show up as myself, who am I showing up as?”
Enjoy the day!
Mildred Lynn