Having recently gotten rid of my hockey gear, which marked the ending of a 20 year cycle in my life (and the beginning of a new cycle), it brought to mind the masks we create, and wear.
You see, I was a goaltender.
I was a major link in the make-up of my team. I was the last line of defence. Every time I donned my “armour”, I prepared mentally and emotionally to bare the teams survival on my shoulders. I willingly faced the heat of the firing squad so that my team had a chance to succeed. I stood alone, assuring them, “Go ahead, I’ve got your back”, so that they may exceed. I was their backbone, their rescuer, their protector.
This was the role I’d identified with at the time. This was the mask I put on as I stepped forward to fight for my place in this world. And it makes sense. I grew up among a peoples (the Dene) that have historically faced injustice and tragedy as their identity and sense of self worth were stripped away by force. Despite being the recipient of their resentment and anger for a time (the color of my skin representative of those who reaped it upon them), my desire had only ever been to contribute to and be a part of the community (which eventually did come about). I’m the elder brother of 3 younger sisters. My sense of responsibility to protect them and my parents, no matter what befell me, from the hardship they faced, radiated strongly within. As a Baha’i, being of service and promoting the unity of mankind is forefront to what I do. My strengths support fulfilling this role well.
Being the backbone, the rescuer, the protector; has it’s place. It doesn’t mean it’s wrong or that any of us that find ourselves in that role (or any other role) are wrong. For me, that role has grown and shifted over the years, but still ever present. I didn’t even realize it was a defining component to who I was, to who I have been (and to what extent) until last summer.
This is the thing with the masks we choose (because we do choose them): we don’t do so consciously. Our circumstance, our environments, our experiences, these all influence the mask we create and subsequently wear. “I’m the rescuer, I’m the protector, I’m the fighter, I’m the problem solver, I’m the commander”; equally connected to “I’m the downtrodden, I’m the unfortunate, I’m the unintelligent, I’m the lead weight”. And while it has certainly served us in our life and the lives of others to an extent, it has its limitations. Because over time, these masks become our identity. Become what we present to others and the framework within which our decisions are made. While I’m not saying your sense of identity is a complete sham, it is however, incomplete. It is only one aspect of who you are in your entirety.
As those masks get worn for longer and longer periods, the stronger, more justified they become. Becoming more and more difficult to peel back, revealing what awaits behind it. You see, your mask, while is in part you, HIDES the rest of you. The essence of who you are in all your strength and magnificence It keeps others (including yourself) from thus benefitting from all you have to share, the incredible power your gifts have to shed on the world.
Your mask has served it’s purpose. It’s helped you develop what you needed to progress. Now it needs more of you.
What mask do you wear right now?
What limitations does wearing it present?
What if you removed it?
What awaits behind it?
Dare To Evolve,
Shane.
