Without realizing, human beings wear mask in their life. We act accordant to the mask we are wearing or a role we are playing, meanwhile, we hide our real personality and it turns up only when we are alone.
There are many kinds of masks we wear or the roles we play such as a good son/daughter, a good wife, a protecting husband, a patient mother, wise grandparents, a dedicating teacher, etc.
Outside, we look like that but, inside, we mumble. We do not want to show our real feeling since we think it is improper.
We want the truth and normality in life: to behave normally and want others to treat us normally, as well. In fact, however, in daily life we are often complained and punished if we show our real nature. As a result, we often pretend: we merely behave as what others ask us to.
We often act as a great person who is proud or braver than what we really are. We do not dare to say, "I can''t" though we know we are incapable. We do not dare to say the truth. We keep pretending: wear mask. Consequently, we become tortured. We also become alienated from the real ourselves, do not recognize ourselves and are not recognized by others. In fact, knowing ourselves is important.
These are the masks we usually put on:
1. Personality Mask
We show ourselves as persons with certain personalities such as: friendly, tender, patient, hones, affective, understanding, etc. We hide our real nature and it turns up only when we are alone or when we lose control. If we put this mask on, it means we are not sincere. And that isn''t right.
2. Humor Mask
Many people hide themselves behind this mask. They spill jokes out of their mouth, make others laugh, always look cheerful and happy to hide their sadness, sorrow, anxiety and fright and to discourage others to see their real feeling. Moreover, our people think it is a good thing. To make people laugh is devotion, they say.
3. Speaker Mask
These people cover their real feeling by talking a lot. They keep talking and talking until do not realize that they have made others bored. Generally, women do this but some men do, too.
4. Silent Person Mask
It is the opposite of one has been mentioned. They hide their real feeling by being silent, not much talking. Usually it comes with shy style or proud. He/she wants to make an impression that he/she is different with others.
5. Spiritualist Mask
These people pretend to be full of spirit to do spiritual activities such as: reciting holly books, preaching, meeting each other to talk about spiritual problems, writing kinds of essays to "spread the goodness", quoting verses from holly book, memorizing holly book''s verses just to show off, etc.
Surely, it does not mean that there are not people who are true and sincere.
6. Busy Person Mask
These people use "business" as an argument to refuse undesired requests or to avoid challenge they must face and also to avoid struggling against emptiness, anxiety and dissatisfaction. They try to keep busy or seem to be.
This will take them away from the truth.
Those are masks most people wear. There are still many such as assertive style, big boss style, cool style, artist style, rocker style, etc.
If we have been wearing the mask too often or too long, it will stick and become unnoticeable. If it happens we will not be able to be friends sincerely or make good friendship or other more intimate relationship since to have such relationship we have to be sincere, honest, not to be afraid to show who we really are. We must take those masks off just like what Peterpan (a music group from Indonesia) has said in their song: ...Coba buka dulu topengmu... (Can you open your mask first?).
Can we?