Lately, I’ve been thinking about the different “faces” I show to the world. Jung called this the Persona — the mask we wear to fit in, to be liked, or to feel safe. It’s the version of ourselves we show in public — at work, with friends, even with family.
I realize I have many of them. There’s the calm and composed me who seems fine even when I’m not. There’s the helpful me who wants to make things easier for others. And sometimes, there’s the quiet me who hides parts of herself just to avoid being misunderstood.
These masks aren’t fake. They serve a purpose — they help us move through the world. But problems begin when I start believing that the mask is me. When I ignore what I truly feel just to keep the mask in place, I end up feeling disconnected from myself.
Jung said the goal isn’t to remove the mask entirely, but to know that it’s a mask — to recognize when we’re using it, and why. That awareness brings freedom. It allows me to show up more honestly without losing the ability to adapt to different situations.
Today, I’m learning to notice when I hide behind my Persona. I ask myself: Am I being true to what I really feel? Sometimes the answer is no — and that’s okay. It’s a reminder to pause, breathe, and slowly find the courage to show a little more of who I really am.
The mask protects, but it shouldn’t silence. And maybe real growth begins when I start balancing both — being kind to the world, and also kind to myself.
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