Unmasking
A Reflection on Being
artist: @rozzidreams
Saw this post from Jim Carrey this morning — he put these words to it:
the real you is watching
the mask is in pain
stop mistaking yourself
for something you are not
be attentive
let go of theories
feel
the masks we wear
In the artwork, the mask represents the facades we construct—like those of certainty, perfection, and invulnerability—yet, behind the mask, the true self observes, untouched by the pain the facade endures—pretending to be who we believe we should be, we neglect the essence of who we truly are
Jim has referred to depression as ‘deep rest’—as in, the deep rest that ensues and is needed as a result of playing a part that isn’t you
The depression is basically saying, fuck you, I can’t do this anymore—it’s a shutting down
the pain of disconnection
The mask is in pain, not merely from the weight of its disguise but from the disconnection it represents—from our true selves, from each other, and from the earth we tend—it is in this disconnection that we find the roots of suffering—’the story of separation’
the mistake of misidentification
We mistake ourselves for the roles we play, the expectations we meet, and the past we carry—like the vibrant green landscape transitioning into the dark, patterned abyss, we lose sight of our inherent nature amidst life's complex tapestry—but, the 'real you'—the observer, the experiencer, the intrinsic self—is always present, always watching—witness consciousness
attentiveness: the path of presence
To be attentive is to be present in the moment, to live with awareness and intention—it is to notice the sun's warmth on our skin, the soil's coolness beneath our hands, and the vitality of life that pulses through everything—this attentiveness allows us to recognize the mask for what it is—a temporary guise, not our true identity
letting go of theories
Theories, while they offer explanations, can also distance us from the raw experience of being—they can be like the branches that obstruct our view of the forest—necessary for structure but limiting in excess—we must learn to let go, to experience life not just as a concept but as a felt presence
book recommendation: the presence process — Michael Brown
feeling as understanding
Feeling is our most primal way of understanding the world and our place within it—it transcends language and logic, reaching into the depths of our being—as the artwork suggests, there is a symphony of emotions, a chorus of existence that sings to us—if only we listen
embracing authenticity
As I reflect on nature and self, I’m reminded that to grow and to heal is to become attuned to the authenticity of our existence—it is to acknowledge the mask but not to be confined by it—it is to feel the pain, to understand its source, and to gently release it back into the soil of life from which new beginnings will grow
Let us then take a moment to simply be attentive, to let go of the theories that bind us, and to feel deeply, profoundly, and without reservation—in this state of open receptivity, we find the path to our true selves, and in turn, the path to a world renewed