“the face is the index of the mind.”
this proverb suggests that the human face may indicate to others what we are experiencing emotionally.
she found herself presenting a different face in different settings.
there she was, politely but guardedly, conversing with the customs agent …
that was her, relaxed and laughing with her childhood friends …
then, when she felt angered at a perceived slight, a whole new facial expression emerged …
different days? sure.
different emotions? absolutely.
different faces? well, yeah.
but was she a different person in each situation as well?
compartmentalizing herself into neat little boxes each time?
perhaps.
/ / / / / / /
we all have our collection of masks that we carry around with us.
some we are unaware of, like when something unexpected catches us by surprise.
others we spend time perfecting, like when we put on a “brave face.”
is what’s beneath your visage a consolidated self that you recognize?
or are you a divided personality, struggling to make sense of your surroundings and your place in them?
faces
concealing too much
revealing too much
what is simmering
beneath those masks grasped so tightly?
what if we were to integrate the various faces we display in public?
what if each of us were only one face instead?
what if people knew what they would encounter in their dealings with us each and every time?
hmmm. something to consider.
would that make us less interesting, less mysterious?
or would that make us more of an integrated whole?
could you still say “i’m uniquely me,”
and be free to experience and express all of your emotions and thoughts?
or would you become a same-mask-robot, conscious of each move you made that wasn’t aligned with the way you perceive yourself?
to eloquently articulate who we are and what we are all about,
to have a solid hold on what distinguishes us from the rest.
that’s what we want, right?
you know what i think?
i think it’s a matter of semantics.
i don’t think the faces that others see are really that crucial.
i don’t think we need to be tethered to anyone’s idea of who we should or must be.
i think what’s important is knowing ourselves.
inside and out.
knowing what makes us humanly relevant.
searching for and pulling out that core.
that essence of our existence.
what face (or faces) do you unveil to the world?
are they real?
or are they artificial?
it’s okay to present more than one face.
as long as all of those faces are consistent with your one authentic self.
and it’s also okay if your reactions to that sound like the following:
“but i’m still figuring out the design of my life.”
“i’m still carving and molding.”
“i’m still a work in progress.”
so too is my son’s artwork (pictured above).
in fact, that partial face is on its way to becoming a full head.
we’re more than just faces.
we’re thinking, feeling beings.
with unbounded explorations to make, with daring lives to lead.
always searching for the courage and creativity and confidence to be our true best selves.
we’re “full heads.”
heads full of thoughts and feelings and decisive actions.
adding to our internal frames, the armatures that support us, each and every day.
/ / / / / / /
do you think it’s necessary or essential to present your genuine self to the world?
why or why not?
as always, i would love to hear your thoughts.
please leave a comment below.
