Removing the Mask: Who Are You When You’re No Longer Performing?
Halloween is the one day of the year we expect people to wear masks. We play dress-up, become someone else, and step into roles for fun. But here’s the truth—many of us wear masks every single day, long after the costumes are put away.
The mask of “I’m fine.”
The mask of perfection.
The mask of the good girl, the achiever, the one who has it all together.
And while those masks may have once kept us safe, they can also keep us from experiencing the deep connection and authenticity we’re craving.
So here’s the question this season invites: Who are you when the mask comes off?
🎭 Why We Wear Masks
We start wearing masks early. Maybe you learned that being quiet kept the peace. Or that being accomplished earned love. Or that hiding your feelings made life easier for everyone else.
Masks are protective. They shield us from rejection, criticism, or pain. But over time, they also create distance—between who we truly are and who we believe we should be.
🌿 The Cost of Wearing a Mask Too Long
Wearing masks day after day is exhausting. It can leave you feeling:
Disconnected from your true self
Unsure of what you actually want
Lonely, even in relationships
Burned out from performing
The scariest part? If you wear the mask long enough, you might forget what’s underneath.
🕯️ Mindfulness, Creativity & Movement to Take the Mask Off
You don’t have to rip the mask away all at once. Gentle practices can help you slowly reconnect with your real self:
Mindfulness: Notice when you slip into performance mode. Pause. Ask yourself, What’s true for me right now?
Creative Expression: Journal about the masks you’ve worn and the story they tell. Or draw/paint what your mask looks like—then imagine what’s behind it.
Movement: Try a freeform dance, yoga flow, or even a primal scream. Let your body express what words can’t.
Every small act of authenticity is a thread pulling you closer to home.
🌙 This Halloween: A Different Kind of Costume Party
On October 31st, while the world plays dress-up, I invite you to try something else: remove one mask you’ve been wearing too long. Maybe it’s saying “no” when you usually overextend. Maybe it’s admitting you’re tired instead of pushing through. Maybe it’s letting your grief or joy show without apology.
You don’t need to become someone new—you just need to remember who you already are underneath it all.
💛 Want Support in Shedding the Masks?
This is the work we do together—creating safe, compassionate space for you to drop the roles, soften the critic, and reconnect with the self you’ve always been.
✨ Explore with me in: 1:1 Aligned Living Coaching – for deeper, personalized support in removing the mask
Keep tending to your light — it’s already enough. ✨🌿
With warmth (and maybe a little mischief),
Jess 🤍
