Do you yearn to deeply see or simply observe?

If someone offered you the choice between two life-changing objects: an invisible mask that, when you put it on, allows you to see deep inside other people and hear their thoughts OR a magic mirror that, when you look in it, allows you to see your own hidden, subconscious neuroses so that you can work through them and become a better person, what would you choose?

If you could be honest with yourself when you answer this question, you can clarify who you really are and what you want out of life.

 

The Temptation of the Magic Mask

Think of what you could do if you could get into other people’s minds, see their secrets and what they do behind closed doors. Imagine using this information to better manipulate situations at work, with your partner, or even your children. You could know and judge their every move. Think of what power that would give you! It would probably make your life easier in a way.

As much of a fantasy as this scenario is, I think we all wish we could have some control over the people in our lives.

How much better would we feel when we see what devious things other people are up to? It would definitely make us feel a little better about ourselves, right? This “magic mask,” if it existed, seems like a powerful tool to get what we think we really want in life.

 

The Challenge of the Metaphorical Mirror

Now, look closer at the other choice, the “metaphorical mirror.” It doesn’t seem quite as intriguing. What could we gain from simply looking at ourselves?

Most of us think we already know ourselves, but do we really? Most times we only look at ourselves on the surface and shy away from anything that would help us reflect what’s deep inside us, perhaps because this would show us the work we still need to do.

 

A Poetic Perspective

Mask or Mirror:

If given a choice, what would you choose?

Would your decision be based on what you might lose?

As the night swirls around you, darkness seeps in like ink

Facing your crossroads, forcing you to think

“Mask or Mirror?”, the old man offers with a bone chilling cry

From behind his shadowy hood, as you try to sneak by

When looking through the MASK you feel safe while seeing others

Holding tightly to this shield, your own flaws it covers

But the MIRROR, more insightful, projects back life’s decisions you’ve made

Reflecting like shiny coins the painful price you’ve paid

The high cost of existing behind the shadowy dark mask

Hiding your gnawing pain, secret flaws from your past

In this world the choice to be enlightened has always been our own

You can look back on a stagnant life or one where you’ve grown

You can observe protected by your mask, judging others people’s deeds

Making up your own excuses, victimizations, and justifying creeds

When you really need the mirror to look deep and enter your spiritual cave

To finally touch your “shadow side” requiring you to be brave.

You can only hide behind your mask for so many years

Until the old man’s fateful question becomes maddening in your ears…

 

Choosing Growth Over Judgment

That poem says a lot and hopefully makes you think about your decision if given that choice.

My understanding of humanity is that to be truly happy, we must continuously evolve—this is what our soul wants.

Suppressing fearful thoughts or painful things that happened to us in the past will only stagnate our growth and hurt us in the long run. Seeing into ourselves and then learning to understand ourselves, accepting our shadow side, and then learning to celebrate ourselves is the path to true self-love. Only through this path can we truly love others and enrich their lives.

Most of us already tend to hide behind our masks, hiding our flaws so that we can easily judge others. If we were given a “magical mask” that would help us see others’ dark thoughts, we would become even more judgmental without understanding what pain brought them to this place. Only through self-love and self-acceptance can we truly love and accept others.

Although this scenario is made up and seemingly unrealistic, it helps us consider what we are already doing. Most of us must take off our masks and pick up our mirrors because we already have both. So, unless you’re in Disney’s Snow White, the movie, mirrors don’t lie.

 

The Mirror as a Path to Freedom

After reading this, if given a choice, I hope that you would choose a mirror to reflect the beauty of yourself and your divine essence back into your soul. This is a perfect way to get to know yourself and to learn to love yourself. Only then can you project the true beauty of divinity within you onto others around you or your partner.

So, you may want to save your mask for Halloween. Stop using your mask to hide your true self while simultaneously hiding your flaws and judging what’s in other people’s hearts and minds. Pick up your mirror and focus on who you are and how you could become a better person.

I think it will be one of the most freeing feelings you will ever experience.