With Halloween just around the corner, it got me thinking about masks - not in the costume sense, but rather in the way we hide our true selves from others.When we were little, wearing masks was all about playing make believe and pretending to be someone else just for fun. But as we get older and the pressure to fit in gets bigger, we may wear a mask to try and get others to like us or accept us into the group. Before long, we get so good at fooling others that eventually we wind up deceiving ourselves because even we don't know who we really are. We all have our roles in life; student, son, daughter, mother, father, teacher, friend. But there may be roles that we play and masks we wear that we may not even be aware of and that may be keeping us trapped in fear and insecurity. For example, you may be someone who demands perfection from everything that you do. In some ways, that characteristic will serve you, but more often than not, this kind of striving can leave you feeling like you'll never be good enough. You may be wearing the mask of the judge, who is forever criticizing and demanding perfection of yourself and others. If you've ever done anything just to fit in, or said "yes" when you really wanted to say "no," you may be wearing the mask of the chameleon that continually changes its colors to blend in with any environment, which can put you in compromising and even dangerous situations. There are others too such as; the bully, the victim, the imposter, the rebel, the clown - and all of them are covering up feelings of insecurity about who you really are. There is no shame in discovering that you've been wearing a mask. But it's important to realize this truth - not everyone is going to like us. So if we live our lives becoming the best, most authentic version of ourselves, the people that do like us, actually like us for who we really are. Wearing masks may give us temporary relief and may give us the illusion that we are safe and secure, but it takes so much energy to keep up the fa?ade that eventually we end up exhausted and depressed. If you keep pressing the real you down, the only possible and inevitable outcome is depression. Here are 3 tips to help you take off the mask:1. Get to know yourself: This is one of the most important jobs you have in life. Self-knowledge is the key to self-mastery, power, self-confidence and inner peace.2. Stop comparing yourself to others: There is no one on the planet quite like you and the world wouldn't be the same without you in it. It is so much more important to be a first rate version of you instead of a second rate version of someone else.3. Celebrate your strengths: make a list of everything you like about yourself. Like attracts like, so when you focus on your strengths, you'll attract more positive people, events and situations back to you. Save the mask for Halloween. The world doesn't need another insecure, depressed teen. We need strong, confident leaders. We need you.
Kathleen Hassan is a professional speaker and teen life coach and travels the country presenting programs on self-esteem, stress management and empowerment. Her hard-earned wisdom and real-life lessons are based on her own journey from troubled teen to teen mentor to successful entrepreneur. She can be reached at 617-698-1976 or visit her online at www.KathleenHassan.com.
Where Adults Can Find Appropriate, Cool Halloween Costumes
Maybe you're an adult taking your kids out for a fun Halloween excursion or you're just very under-spoken in the outfit department, but when Halloween rolls around, the last thing you want to do is 'sex it up', so to speak You are very understated in that department, don't care for it, or you're going to accompany your children on their trick-or-treat night
Universal Studios Presents 'Halloween Horrors' and Orlando Airport Marriott Offers Plush Accommodations for Spooky Event
The newly renovated Orlando Airport Marriott is the ideal place to rest after a frightful evening at Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights this year.
The Halloween Blog Announces the Top 10 Halloween Costumes for 2007
Unsure what to dress up as for Halloween 2007? Halloween-Costume-Shopping.com is here to help with the Top 10 Costumes for 2007. The website's top 10 Halloween costume picks for this year include current movie costumes like Star Wars costumes and Harry Potter costumes, as well as scintillating sexy Halloween costumes and classic witch costumes. Men, women and children can all find favorite costumes at Halloween-Costume-Shopping.com. Look for helpful Halloween hints at the Halloween Blog, too.
“Eye See” Means a Safer Halloween
Bellingham based Vision Plus Distributes Reflective Eye See Stickers to Patients and Kids in Whatcom ,Skagit and Snohomish Counties
Keep Halloween from Breaking the Bank
Halloween costumes are creative and they continue to evolve each year with new and innovative materials, ideas and technology. The price can also evolve, thus, if you are strapped for cash, but still want to have a memorable Halloween, here are some tips for you.
The Way to Find a Terrorific Halloween Costume This Season
Ever wonder why there are very few Halloween stores when looking for a costume? When you do find a store, they are usually full of people with a small picked over selection of products for sale. Avoid the frustration this year; be smart, take the following suggestion and shop early. The best way to select a unique costume for Halloween is to visit an online Halloween Shop. What better way to find a wide range and huge selection of high quality unearthly costumes, makeup, jewelry, accessories, decorations, party supplies, scary props, videos, tapes and even pumpkin carving patterns from the comfort of your own home. Shopping for Halloween items online is becoming increasingly popular.
Contest Rewards Bloggers for Halloween 'How To' Articles, Hosted by ZestBit.com
ZestBit.com hosts a $100 Halloween Contest for the best Halloween 'How To' and Answer article. Authors will receive $100 to top internet retailers in the categories of Halloween Parties and Decorations, Halloween Costumes and Halloween Sweet Treats.
Set the Mood- Halloween Decoration Ideas
When Halloween comes around and you want to throw a party or you are a room mother for your son's class at school, how should you decorate? Here are some Halloween decoration ideas to get you started.Halloween decoration ideas do not have to be complicated or time-consuming.
Reason Never Sleeps: Studio Universal's Shocker Series Slated for Halloween Release
It's called "The Sleep of Reason", a title inspired by Goya's famous painting. Some have described it as a documentary. Some others say it's an extremely unconventional news report. The mystery is about to be unfold on Universal Studios Network's pay channel.
Halloween Costume Ideas For Toddlers
Dressing up your toddler for Halloween is a lot of fun. Enjoy it while you can. Before you know it your sweet little toddler will be in kindergarten or first grade and will have developed a much stronger opinion on his or her costume choices and you'll no longer be able to dress him in the costume of your choice. Here are a few ideas for toddler Halloween costumes to get you started. Of course there are plenty of other options out there as well. With a little creativity, the possibilities are endless.
Renderosity Digital Art Community Hosts 7th Annual Halloween Contest Thousands of Dollars in Prizes to Feast Upon During "Dinner With the Dead"
The Renderosity Digital Art Community is hosting their 7th Annual Halloween Contest. Today marks the beginning of the "Dinner With the Dead" event sponsored by leading manufacturers.
How To Avoid Problems When Ordering Halloween Costumes Online
Buying Halloween costumes online might be smooth sailing for most, but a handful of Halloween hopefuls run into unexpected problems The last thing you want is problems with your costume order, but many Halloween enthusiasts run into problems online, such as the wrong size, bad material, or being ripped off from less-than-honest vendors
Peanut Allergies - When Halloween Treats are a Halloween Fright
Kid's Fashion Line Addresses the Dangers of Peanuts in Snacks to Allergic Children.
Dig Up Some Dirt Cupcakes for Halloween with SheKnows.com
Whether you celebrate Halloween as a scary and creepy holiday, or just think of it as a fun day to dress up and get treats, the SheKnows website (http://SheKnows.com/halloween) offers a treasure trove of treats -- including craft projects, Halloween recipes, costume tips for both kids and grown-ups and several ghoulish contests -- together with some tricks, such as super-cool pumpkin carving templates and ideas for throwing a fab-boo-lus Halloween party.
Halloween Rites
For some of us, EVERY DAY IS HALLOWEEN!!! If you want to be unusual dress up as a nurse, secretary, grocery clerk or bank teller this year. Gypsy, vampires and shaman wanna-bes are everywhere already!Or you could get all Martha Stewart about it and practice the following festive rites, which find their origins in the British Isles and Europe for that "authentic" Halloween experience.