Masks, masks, masks…. Why do we wear so many?

There are many reasons we haven’t felt safe to take off our masks and be our most authentic selves. Sometimes, we haven’t even been able to really develop who we are in ourselves. Yet, we are a world full of unique individuals, all who deserve an opportunity to be our truest selves.

Let’s take some counsel from Dr. Seuss who said, “Today YOU are YOU, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is YOU-ER than YOU!” To see our true YOU we need to heal from the use of masks, learn to love ourselves more and more, while expanding into our true selves.

Can we start by delighting a while in our own uniquenesses? The quirky laughs or smiles we may have, different things that light us up, special things that make us cry, one-of-a-kind things we create, and all our unspoken dreams- along with much more. Let’s let our YOU-ness shine!

We can also be a powerful gift in someone else’s life when we see and reflect back to others their beautiful YOU-ness. It’s empowering for them and strengthens them to be “truer than true” with themselves. It also helps them to see-and appreciate-themselves for becoming their truest YOU. Others who see us and value us want to know (and celebrate with us) the authentic YOU’s we are expanding into.

So, what do you say… let’s leave the masks behind and just put one on at Halloween. And, the rest of the time let’s honor and soak in (deep into our hearts and souls) the uniquely particular YOU-ness we each possess!

Cheri Thomas

Cheri works as a Peer Support Specialist at Recovery Innovations. She writes as an expression of her heart in hopes of connecting to others’ hearts, so that no one feels alone on this journey-and instead feels valued, seen, and heard while growing in empowerment.