Cincinnati Therapist Discusses Unmasking Ourselves: The Hidden Truth Behind Halloween Disguises and Everyday Facades

The history of donning masks and disguises at halloween time has roots tracing back to over 2,000 years ago to mark the beginnings of winter as well as to stave off unwelcome ghosts and spirits. Today, costumery for all ages continues and transforms the landscape of late October, if only for a few hours, into altered shapes and personas. I can remember the many concoctions of fabric and accessories I used to pull together annually as a child. I felt a combination of empowerment, a theatrical thrill, and the joy of pretend play when I landed on the perfect costume idea.

Whether a sparkling princess, twirling ballerina, or mysterious cat, for Halloween I was able to be someone or something else once a year. 

As engaging as this was as a kiddo, my older self is more soul searching and reflective. The idea of pulling on a mask has taken a deeper flow of thought for me this year. I wonder what masks we all pull on, to shield the world from seeing our insecurities, our perfectionism, our lack of sense of belonging, our fears of not measuring up, our worries of falling behind, our panic of being exposed as a fraud…you get the idea (insert your own internal challenge here). I wonder what costumes we struggle into as a hiding place; full of pretense to be something true and authentic when we are feeling quite the opposite. Imposter syndrome, the feeling or fear of being discovered as not being nearly as capable, skilled, equipped or educated as one has everyone else believing, nods to the struggles we face to be enough, to do enough, and to know enough as we move through our busy lives. 

Will we be discovered if the mask falls off?

Feelings of unsafety might rise to the surface if we dare lift our veil, drop our facade, or reveal our true identity. Leaving the mask behind, some might say “being vulnerable”, can fuel our fight or flight response, make us ill at ease, leave us feeling exposed in a chaotic space. Do we long to escape into a different role to avoid the uncomfortable risk of being discovered, of being harmed, of feeling too defenseless?

Let us be gentle with ourselves when removing our masks.

There are treats amongst the tricks of our nervous system. We at Rooted Compassion believe fervently that with practice and support we can be more in tune to our sense of safety and connection, full of self compassion and well being, and more at peace with who we are behind our mystifying masks and disguises. And what would Halloween be without a mysterious poem to ponder? 

Masks we wear conceal

Shadows veil our true essence

Fears leap in the dusk

In a quiet moment

A glimmer breaks the darkness

We are all enough

Gently stretch and breath

Close your eyes release the day

Yes, we are enough