Society Mask

Each of us walks a fine line between our comfort with ourselves and our comfort of where we exist in societies eyes.  During our average day we are tested constantly on our morals towards each other and our morals towards our true selves.  One of the more common tests is what is referred to as a ‘white lie’.  The lie that as children we watch our parents tell, for reasons ranging from “Sometimes the truth hurts too much” to “It’s best if they don’t know”.  When in actual fact, neither of these two statements are in any way true to anyone involved.  The truth never hurts ‘too much’ and it is never ‘best if someone doesn’t know’ the truth.  The fact that we make these decisions, and decisions like them, in regard to another individual and what we believe they are capable of dealing with is somewhat of a concern.

 When we present a false situation, experience or explanation we are not allowing those involved to deal with it in their own way.  We, as individuals or collective groups, are removing the learning process from their lives.  And just as each of us as individuals have a ‘right to know’, so do they.  To rob someone of the chance to grow is one of the worst possible experiences anyone can place onto another.  The learning will eventually occur anyway, more likely whilst the ‘robber’ isn’t around.  The real reason we present this ‘mask of reality’ isn’t, I believe, so much to do with hurting someone else, a lot of the time it has to do with saving a potential uncomfortable feeling for ourselves.  But is it really THAT uncomfortable? Especially when compared to the overall feeling one gets when knowingly not telling the truth as well as the emotions felt each time that subject comes up from that point on.  Each time we knowingly present a false situation or false information we create a ‘brick of guilt’ in our consciousness.  If we later find out we have presented a false situation or false information and make a conscience decision not to correct the matter, another ‘brick of guilt’ is created.  As adults we are greatly affected by this over time, whereas children don’t hold it in their memory long, adults will be constantly reminded of that which they feel strong guilt for.

 As I am not a doctor I cannot base this on proven scientific fact, but as a human being I can base this on what I’ve seen & experienced in my life.  And each of us have met individuals along the way and have seen their personalities and how they effect those around them.  As we grow as adults we may choose to live a life that asks us to question our own personal morals, we may choose to live a life in which we surround ourselves with people who don’t want to hear our opinion, we may choose a life where we constantly promise the world but deliver nothing.  Each of us have a choice in how we present ourselves, whether honestly from the heart or dishonestly and creating it ‘on the fly’ in our mind.  Problem with the latter is that you need to have a great memory to remember all the intricacies of the ‘society mask’ you are presenting those around you.

 I have learnt that those who do present a ‘society mask’ for long periods of time tend to feel at wits end all the time.  They tend to feel that nothing ever goes right for them.  They tend to be constantly covering up one part of their mask  with some more false stories.  They tend to harp on a subject for a long period of time making sure their opinion is forced home and they also tend to have a lot to say about other people’s lives.  Which is quite ironic really.  It’s like a really bad Learner driver yelling at the other Learner drivers that they aren’t doing it right.

We each have our own opinion on life, how we should live it, how our societies should be run, some even have an opinion on ‘why’ life is.  Essentially though, opinions are like bums in the sense that everyone has one.  And basically this is just me showing my bum to the world for all it’s glory.  I’m sure there’s plenty out there that are thinking it’s too big, too fat, too skinny, too hairy, not enough hair or they don’t like the vertical crack.  And really I am happy to know that there are those out there with a different bum to mine.  After all, we are all individuals and as much as you don’t want my bum, I may not want yours either.  And just as you have the right to have a bum like that, I have a right to have a bum like this.  Hopefully we can share one opinion, and that is that it’s ok to be different.  After all, this universe has made nothing but beauty so far.  So I’m getting the general impression that no matter what type of ‘form’ anything takes in this universe, it’s all beautiful, has meaning and everything is the way it is for a reason.

 Peace All