Drop the mask and be you

I forget sometimes how difficult it is for us to drop the mask and be ourselves.  You would think it is the easiest thing in the world, being yourself, yet we do almost everything we can do be someone else.

I was chatting to an HR professional today about being authentic and she commented

But at work everyone acts like they think they should but we all respect those people that  act with integrity

So here is the dilemma, if we all like, respect and want to work with people who are honest, act with integrity and have humanity, then why don’t we all behave like that.?  Well that’s because being ourselves, being authentic and having integrity takes courage.

Why courage? Because being unique means being vulnerable.  It means exposing ourselves.

But the rewards to ourselves and the strengthening of our relationships will be enhanced if we could drop the mask.

Be yourself, be brave.