Mask over the Real Self

We all wear a mask over our real selves. We were not born with the mask but as we grow, society starts building a mask over our persona by guiding us to make us accept societal norms and standards. We become artificial because we want to please others and seek their acceptance. We speak and act not the way our inner self guides us but as others want us to. In this process, we move away from our real selves. We forget the fact that “You were not born on earth to please anyone; you have to live life to express yourself, not to impress someone. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not, and never lose yourself in search of other people’s acceptance and approval.” ― Roy T. Bennett

In this paper we would explore how gradually we become unreal, what is the mask- the persona, why the persona develops to hide the real self, the benefits and disadvantages of the mask, and shall also look at the flip side of it i.e., the benefits of not having the mask—advantages of being your true self and how to move towards becoming your real self.