Are You Hiding Like Me?

One of my favorite things to do as a kids was play hide-and-go-seek.

I loved hiding in a great place where nobody could find me. I could just sit there by myself and feel safe and protected. Honestly, most of the time I hoped nobody found me.

As children we don't have any idea the psychological programming we are receiving when we play games like that where the purpose is to not be found.

We get told that "children are meant to be seen and not heard."

We know we will get in trouble for doing something we weren't supposed to do, so we hide what we did from our parent and other authority figures.

We get told you have to do this, or not do that, since the neighbors might say something.

Problem is, we don't stop those behaviors when we become adults, since those behaviors get programmed into our subconscious brain.?

• Are you hiding who you really are so you feel safe?
• Are you hiding who you really are so you won't get in trouble?

I've spent a lot of my life doing just that, and if you are like most people, you probably have to.

What I can tell you is it's exhausting both mentally and physically to keep up and act and go through life trying to please people... especially since usually the people we try to please the most will never be pleased and they enjoy telling us how we didn't meet their expectations.

It might be a bitter pill to swallow, and you don't have to believe me, but have you ever done any of these things?

• Wear clothing that covers your tattoos, piercings, or a body part you don't want others to see?
• Dress conservatively in a "corporate uniform" so people will think you are, and so you can fit in?
• Substitute words like darn, stuff, garbage, or fetch, for what you really want to say out loud?
• When people ask for your opinion, you tell them what you think they want to hear instead?
• You let others walk all over you, because "you're a team player."
• Never let your emotions show, since there is just no place for that at work.
• Do you have one personality at work, and a different one in your personal life?
• You are afraid if you show people who you really are they will judge you?
• You are in a job or career that you hate because that's what others expect.

I've been guilty of all of these.

AND I'm sick and tired of it. I'm ready to pull off the mask. The authentic ME is literally dying if I don't let him out.

Do you feel the same way?

Strap yourself in and let's stop hiding together.?

I will start and you can follow my lead or just observe, where ever you are comfortable starting.

Here's what you can do to join me on this journey:

1. Like this post and put something in the comments.

2. Subscribe to my Jamming with Jason podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jamming-with-jason-mefford/id1456660699 and YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/jasonleemefford where I will be sharing my journey with you. More to come through these channels very soon.

3. Add yourself to my VIP mailing list: https://www.jasonmefford.com/vip/ No spam. I will give you links to what I'm doing in one convenient place, and inspiring messages each week.

4. Tune into at least one of these:

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Perhaps you’ve climbed the corporate ladder only to look around and think “WTF” I put my ladder on the wrong building, or climbed the wrong mountain. Perhaps you find yourself on the hamster wheel of life where you are emotionally eating, drinking, buying and realize those distracting behaviors just don’t provide you with the satisfaction you are looking for. They just numb and distract your from what you really want, and what your need to fix in your life. You are not alone.

The Difference 1% Makes with Luke Layman: https://jasonmefford.com/jammingwithjason261/

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But what if that is a broken strategy that just sets you up to fail… and the real trick is making the little 1% changes that make all the difference, when you are working from the identity of the person who already has what you want? Seems much simpler and it actually works.

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Embracing Your Quirks, Kinks and Fetishes with Miss Lila Sage: https://jasonmefford.com/fireandearth143/

We all have our little quirks, kinks, and fetishes. Instead of embracing and exploring them, most people live in guilt and shame thinking they can’t express their true self.

In this #fireandearthpodcast #podcast episode we talk with Miss Lila Sage, who people describe as a confident woman who inspires others to create according to their soul’s purpose. A French word sums up her abilities; she is an Inspiratrice.

Thinking, Reflecting and Being Intentional with Mo Issa: https://jasonmefford.com/jammingwithjason192/

I met Mo many years ago when we were both trained to be coaches by Brian Tracy and we have continued our friendship as our paths keep crossing. Mo is one of the most authentic, reflective and wise people I know, so thought it was perfect to have him on the podcast to discuss how to become more self-aware, intentional, and learn how to slow down and relax… things most of us don’t start doing until a mid-life crisis.