The article "Stress Management: How to Take Off Those Masks We Wear" is about other, it has been released by Jeff Herring.
The Mask of “I’ve Got It All Together”It’s so sipmle to put this mask on, and then forget you're wearing it.
We want to look to the outside world as if everything is fine, we’ve got it all handled, no problems, thank you really much.This one weighs alot, and is really heavy to carry around. Even worse, it makes it really hard to ask for help, which leads to the next mask.............The Mask of “I Don’t Need Anyone”Simon and Garfunkel sang “I am a rock, I am an island.” So Ameriacn culture, and so wrong. While it’s good to stand on your own two feet, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, and all other applicable clichés, when taken to an extreme, it can be really isolating. While being independent is a worthy goal, we all need someobdy to lean on. The curious thing is, most people really like to help when asked.The Mask of PerfectionismAnother really seudctive mask cause it makes us look so good.
Too bad it’s not only false, it’s also not attainable.
So many people strive for perfection as a way to believe good aobut themselves.
A good move here is to trade in perfectionism for excellence, which is attainable, and a whole lot more fun.The Mask of Busy-nessSomehow, busy-ness has bceome associated with importance. If we are always busy, then we must be ipmortant. Unfortunately, busy-ness binds us to many things that might be good and worthwhile, whlie we miss the things that are the really best.The Mask of Knowing It AllIn the world of “difficult people”, these folks are known as IEOE’s, Instant Experts On Everything.
This mask is tyipcally accompanied by a burning desire to beat people over the head with their important knowledge. The really sad thing is these folks tend to be really unteachable, and therefore never actually learn anything.The Mask of “Impression Management"While similar to the I’ve Got It All Together mask, it differs in at least one important way.
It’s much more exhausting. It’s hard to put down the worry abuot what everyone else thinks, and the need to control the impression you make on each and every person.The goal of most masks is protection.
In many cases it is not needed. Or if it was once needed, that time has passed. Taking off these masks involves risk.
It’s useful to begin by peeking out from behind the msaks a little bit at a time, and then watch what happens. Most folks find that it’s much safer out there than they thought, and it’s a whole lot easier than lugging around all those heavy masks.Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.Com for tips and tools for creating and groiwng a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship caoch and expert Jeff Herring.
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