We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves. Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We are all actors on this universal stage called ‘life’. Some of us good, some really bad, some smart, few of us brilliant, few ignorant and few confused, not knowing they are. Sometimes it’s accidental and most of the times it’s deeply unconscious that we are unaware of this mask we wear, ad infinitum.

Why is it that we have this facade on? Are we ashamed of ‘who’ we are? Is it the fear of being rejected by your peers, society? Or is it just a deep rooted conditioning of the society over the years?

The reasons could be a million, but one cannot conceal the fact that after a while this pretense becomes our alter ego. It’s understood that all world’s a stage and we are here to play our part. But are we even aware of what part we are ‘playing’? Yes to a certain extent we are, the loving husband/wife, the perfect girlfriend, the loyal worker, the dutiful child, the respectable citizen and many more. All these are extensions of our personality and we start identifying with them. We never question, what is our intrinsic nature? The one we have lost trying to modify ourselves to fit the bill.

The society for years now has managed to influence us, making it absolutely crucial for survival. As a social animal, man finds it obligatory to be a part of the herd. And then the crusade of changing ourselves to ‘fit in’ begins. What better than wear a mask, so here we are lions in the masks of sheep, monkeys in the masks of tiger, and so on? This view point is not to demean anyone, but an urge to find ourselves, to find who we truly are. I would not agree less that it is not easy being yourself when you are part of the flock, since the stakes are high, your relationships, your job, your family, etc. And the only logical solution would be to light your candle of awareness. When you are alert, a part of you knows that this is an act, and not you. It could be a small chore; you are upset but have to put on a smile, you are angry but need to be composed, so act but let there be attention.

Every animal and bird follow their essential nature, the lion is a hunter, the cunning fox, the dog is brazenly loyal, etc. The strange thing with animals is that they cannot change their instincts and behavior since they aren’t powered with the most important tool ‘mind’ and ‘consciousness’ that is where we as humans have an added blessing. But has this gift from nature eventually become a curse, to manipulate and distort minds.  And have we invariably become slaves of our own mind and of the society??? The answer lies within you.

“Society is a masked ball, where everyone hides his real character, and reveals it by hiding” Ralph Waldo Emerson