The Masks We Wear
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It’s common in practice to notice splits within our created selves—different personas we use depending on the situation. The person we present at work is often different from the one we present at home, or with the sangha. These shifts in how we show up can feel natural, even automatic.
As long as we’re consciously aware of these personas and skillful in how we construct them, they can actually serve as tools to give life, to point the way out of delusion, and to illuminate a path to liberation.
But here’s where we need to be careful: when we create personas that we’re not consciously aware of—or when we assume they’re harmless when hidden—those personas can cause trouble.
For example, when we set up a barrier between the version of ourselves we know internally and the version we present externally, we might think it’s harmless. We might think it’s fine to have one “inner self” and another “outer self.” But when we do this, we often fail to see the subtle ways this split affects our practice.
Today, I invite you to experiment: practice as if everyone could see your thoughts. Don’t see a separation between your inner and outer selves. Don’t treat the internal and external as two distinct realities. Instead, imagine you’re always prepared for guests, even on the inside. When you bring that level of openness inward, you’ll find that you can meet others with greater skill and compassion outwardly.
When we try to hide parts of ourselves internally, those hidden parts will inevitably find their way out. They won’t manifest in our skillful, conscious actions. Instead, they’ll emerge in ways we’re unaware of—subtle, shadowy actions that slip past our awareness.
So just sit with this today. Notice the difference between your thoughts and your actions. Reflect on the assumptions you make about what can be hidden and what can’t. And then try this: bring those hidden parts into the light of your conscious awareness.
When you do this, two remarkable things happen. First, a lot of the suffering you carry will begin to ease. And second, you’ll start to manifest as a more holistic, authentic being—one capable of acting with compassion not only for yourself but for everyone you encounter.
