Our Masks
- Thread starter barbad0s
- Start date
Ummm....why do you think you're being a jerk?
How do I know my answers?
Welll... hmmm...I guess I would have to say it's because I split myself into 2 entities within me. One is the Observer me and the other is the "actor" me? I'm not sure quite how to describe what takes place. It's as if the Observer me watches my actions and words that flow out of my mouth when I'm around others and then the Observer me watches how others react. Sort of like a triangle. I have noticed the times I allow the Observer me to do the talking/acting is when I'm not wearing a mask. It's when the other (ego) me is doing the action that the masks show up. For example: The ego me is the one concerned about whether the other person likes me and what I say. The ego me is the one who is doing/saying things to ensure my survival in any given situation. Which might include playing by the rules of the game at work - whether I think they're valid or not.
When I'm in the triangle dynamic - I can watch my actions/words effect others. Then I can see their reaction to me and whether I'm getting the desired result. I can see them put on their masks too while dealing with weird me. :tongue:
It's like watching a play on stage.
yep, sounds like me. I am much more self aware and that observer v. actor is so true. I can relate to this especially:
I'm the same. I tend to play by the rules and often seem very much like a person who wants to please. But it's because I'm trying to keep my job.
I think people look at it as some need for approval, which on some level it is, because if you don't "perform" (in work and use the appropriate mask or face) then you may seem too much like an anomaly and not a "team player". But I'm not a brown noser as they say. I just try to do my job as well as I can in fear that if it's not done or done properly, me more than some other person who can get away with almost anything, could be let go. It's not as much about wanting to be apart of the "cool crowd" or be friends with everyone or wanting to be seen as competent employee. It's also about duty or obligation. Yeah, I may go along with something even if I don't like or agree with it because that's what they want. It's not a choice if I want to keep the job. So, that's the way I look at it. That's why I think masks are never just faces. You can seem very excited to be in a particular situation or environment and maybe even quite eager and in reality not like what you're doing, but you know you have to keep sunny or happy or at least smiling face to do what you do. How you seem and what you mean by the impressions you create are two different things.
Self observation.
By the nature of masks, you -ought- to know what the shape of your mask before presenting it to the audience.
Yes, if you look at it close enough.
From a bird's pov; When someone's actions and words clashes with their actual thoughts and feelings, I call it a mask.
That clash is the most damaging aspect.
But I agreed with the bias; there -is- an inherent bias that your True Self must be open honest caring loving etc etc etc. I think it's related to the idea of how babies are pure and innocent; and one's True Self is perceived as being pure and innocent as well.
I like [MENTION=4726]Vict[/MENTION] 's answer.
I think it is about self delusion and illusion. We first see what we are taught to see and blind to all else. Then in a flash, we realize that there is that which we were not taught and see what was previously shielded/hidden from us and are blind to all that we cannot accept. We are blind to those things we are unable to accept about ourselves. We are blind to the motives we refuse to acknowledge, to the voice and actions of our unlovely selves. There is no "mask", it is outright denial.
I think it is about self delusion and illusion. We first see what we are taught to see and blind to all else. Then in a flash, we realize that there is that which we were not taught and see what was previously shielded/hidden from us and are blind to all that we cannot accept. We are blind to those things we are unable to accept about ourselves. We are blind to the motives we refuse to acknowledge, to the voice and actions of our unlovely selves. There is no "mask", it is outright denial.
I'm planning on constructing many literal masks for use in shamanic ritual in the near future.
My job involves a lot of customer service, public visibility, with a diverse coworker base (I'm talking about a grocery store), so I've cut a spectrum of facades - more so vocal masking than facial, though.
I've been concerned with my projected image lately and have begun the process of crafting a tulpa to - among other things - council me on my vocal patterning, body language, and fashion sense.
My job involves a lot of customer service, public visibility, with a diverse coworker base (I'm talking about a grocery store), so I've cut a spectrum of facades - more so vocal masking than facial, though.
I've been concerned with my projected image lately and have begun the process of crafting a tulpa to - among other things - council me on my vocal patterning, body language, and fashion sense.
A tulpa is a mental construct, a fragment of self pre-programmed, made manifest, and given life. It becomes self-aware, sentient... has access to your memory banks and subconscious. It used to be used by hermits to keep from going mad in isolation. Practical uses for any entity include using it as a mirror for self-reflection, a secondary viewpoint (especially if you've given it a very different personality than your own), and as a moral check or judgement center.
Unless you program it otherwise, the tulpa can learn to possess your body.
The entity in John Wyndham's 'Chocky' may have been a tulpa.
Unless you program it otherwise, the tulpa can learn to possess your body.
The entity in John Wyndham's 'Chocky' may have been a tulpa.
I have a lot of masks:
-family mask: talkative and responsible for obligated duties
-friends mask: giddy, talkative and sometimes feeling a little fake because I need my quiet and space
- strangers mask: reserved, shy, possibly even cold
-authorities mask: polite, quiet, very feminine like and speaks in elegance
-mean people mask: asshole-like, aggressive, argumentative
I know most people have these masks or more but to me, it seems like I revealed some secrets of mine
-family mask: talkative and responsible for obligated duties
-friends mask: giddy, talkative and sometimes feeling a little fake because I need my quiet and space
- strangers mask: reserved, shy, possibly even cold
-authorities mask: polite, quiet, very feminine like and speaks in elegance
-mean people mask: asshole-like, aggressive, argumentative
I know most people have these masks or more but to me, it seems like I revealed some secrets of mine
I used to be all for the idea of wearing masks but masks or personas can become like a pair of restraints (ironic word choice ). If you are required to wear a mask all the time or put one on for long periods of time, at least I can only speak for me, it can be suffocating, making it difficult to know yourself outside of those masks. Masks you regularly wear may come to define you because in some ways, they become these things foisted on you, so that without them, people don't know how to relate or interact with you if you're not wearing the mask they are used to. The masks you wear can make you feel as if you're nothing but the mask or persona you're expected to present. It's another way of imposing uniformity and conformity, is to expect everyone to be the same. It comes to a point where people think something is wrong with you if you're not wearing the mask.
). If you are required to wear a mask all the time or put one on for long periods of time, at least I can only speak for me, it can be suffocating, making it difficult to know yourself outside of those masks. Masks you regularly wear may come to define you because in some ways, they become these things foisted on you, so that without them, people don't know how to relate or interact with you if you're not wearing the mask they are used to. The masks you wear can make you feel as if you're nothing but the mask or persona you're expected to present. It's another way of imposing uniformity and conformity, is to expect everyone to be the same. It comes to a point where people think something is wrong with you if you're not wearing the mask.
Yes and no... I tend to feel these 'masks' are more like intensities of 'me' and more situational, in order to avoid wasting energies around those not capable of knowing the true me so easily.