Resilience and the Mask
Are you wearing a mask?
Just as a physical mask hides our faces and emotions, wearing a metaphorical mask can prevent us from expressing our true feelings about trauma.
In his poem entitled "We Wear the Mask", Langston Hughes wrote:
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,
This debt we pay to human guile,
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
and mouth with myriad subtleties.
Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.
We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries
领英推荐
to thee from tortured souls arise.
We wing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile,
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!
To wear a mask is a coping mechanism. Wearing a mask helps us to function in society while concealing the pain, sadness, and anger we feel inside. Constantly wearing a mask can be exhausting and prevents us from fully healing and growing from our experiences.
The mask I wear most commonly relates to racial trauma - from those within my racial group (colorism) and from those of other races (racism). Following are "Resilience Ready" skills I've developed and continue to practice:
What are people missing out on in your regard?
Know that you were wonderfully made by the Creator. Removing the mask is a choice.
Th!nk Possibilities!!!
Speaker· Trainer · Wellness Expert · Writer
1 年Thank you for this clear and informative description of "wearing the mask." Many people have been wearing masks for so long they have forgotten or never really found their authentic self. Nurturing, loving and expressing your true self is a freedom that makes life worth living everyday. I always love the poetic voice of Langston Hughes- art is an avenue for the soul.
LATAM Bound. Your #1 Real Estate Broker, I will Sell Your Home, Estate, Land, Probate Property, Multi-Family Homes in NC. Notary Public.
1 年Thank you so much! I have printed out and affixed your "Accept and validate your feelings" paragraph to my desk!
Unmask Your Power Voice. Take Up Space. Lead Like a Badass. | Speaker | Founder of The Nice Girl Revolution
1 年This is great! So funny, I was just thinking about this concept over the weekend. I called it a "disguise". I was thinking about the unbelievable lengths I would to through to make myself into what I thought society expected of me rather than staying true to myself. I was also thinking about how this concept of "fitting in" is lauded by many white families... quite possibly where the term "black sheep of the family" came from. It was a way of shaming an individual to conform, come back to "our way of thinking"... conform. If not, you're the "black sheep". So much to unpack. I feel I've gotten off track. The point is, I agree, we need to take off our masks, our disguises, and stand up for ourselves and each other. Thank you.