Behind a Mask Everyone Is Confident
Halloween has always been such a fun day for me. As a child I dressed up as Janis Joplin every year from the time I was able to decide my costume for myself to the year I decided I was too old for trick-or-treating.
There’s just something fun about dressing up for the evening. Stepping into another character, dressing in clothes you wouldn’t normally wear, putting on heavier make-up.
Some may apply false eyelashes; men may uncharacteristically rock some guy-liner, gender matters not when donning tights on this day.
We all take our costumes beyond our normal limits to project the character of which we wish to be perceived.
It’s so fun.
For a day.
At the end of every Halloween, though, there is also the relief of taking off the hot wig, wiping the gobs of makeup off and climbing out of the uncomfortable costume.
It’s nice to just be you.
The you who doesn’t have to done a glued on mustache to prove you are who you say you are.
The you that doesn’t have to hide behind a mask to play a part to fit in at the party.
Or do you?
Just Do You
It’s my experience that many of my clients morph into a character they think they have to portray to be accepted every day.
They are wearing their costume every day and it’s uncomfortable.
They long for the relief of taking off the mask, but the risk seems too great.
For some there is a worry that they won’t be able to sell their wares or their services if they aren’t exactly what they think their prospects or clients expect.
For others they unconsciously just go along with status quo at work in fear that doing otherwise would sacrifice their credibility in the eyes of their senior leader or even their own team members.
In Brene Brown, an expert on vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame, concluded in her Ted Talk that, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”
That’s why I start every program I offer, be it for entrepreneurs or corporate leaders, with digging into really examining who my students are as individuals. What are their natural gifts and strengths? What are their tendencies?
How do they view the world and how does the world view them? If there are disconnects between those two views we resolve them so they can be vulnerable and open themselves up to what’s possible when they aren’t so worried about how they are “supposed to” be.
Where there are weaknesses we discover ways to engage others or find tools to support those weaknesses. Where there are communication issues we map out plans to ensure the message my students are sending are the messages that are received by others. Those are a few examples, however, I could truly go on all day on the topic and the results!
EVERYTHING related to your success begins and ends with figuring out yourself, accepting you for all of your glory and then stepping into your greatness courageously knowing that you probably aren’t going to get it all right, and that’s OK.
In my favorite book, Tuesdays With Morrie, Mitch Albom writes, “Accept who you are and revel in it.”
That is my advice to you today as you move forward on your personal development journey.
Have you learned how to stay true to you in a way that propels your success in your business or career? Share your story in the comments. There are PLENTY of people who need to hear from you! xo