My Unmasking Journey Has Taught Me a Lot About Joy & Positivity

I've been hiding my joy for years. Maybe you are, too?

So, I wrote about my new neurodivergent brain discovery in another recent article here, all about celebrating our uniquenesses rather than pathologizing them. Please check that one out, too, because I know it’ll be awesome encouragement for you whether you’re neurodivergent or not! The world needs all of Who You Are, Sweet Soul. (It’s also a podcast episode if that’s more your jam! You can subscribe to the podcast here [also available on Apple Podcasts] and find it as a recent episode titled “7. How Celebrating & Embracing Our Uniquenesses *Actually* Allow for the Truest of Transformations” - I just can’t link it just yet because it’s not published yet ☺️)

Since this neurodivergence discovery, I’ve been working on fully embracing the uniqueness of who I am. Unmasking, as it’s called. Literally taking off the metaphorical mask that I’ve been wearing all my life to fit in and be “normal”. It’s un-chameleoning (try that word on for size! 😂).

Relearning who I really am (apart from the Soul Truth of Me!) and getting to express that into the world.

What a journey! Ya think you know who you are…

But if you’ve been faking so much for so long, it can be a darn challenge to untangle fact from fiction!

Now, of course, we are always changing, growing, and evolving. We are always Souls at the Core - Soul will always be the Truest of True Identities for all of us.

Yet we all get to express differently. We made some choices, as Souls, before we came here - I believe some of those choices involved choosing the unique wiring of the human avatar that we were going to play in this game (so to speak)!

So, we get to work with that unique wiring - the unique wiring of the body, the brain, the nervous system.

Here, I want to talk about a recent discovery of mine in this unmasking journey that’s definitely applicable to us all:

I’ve been masking my joy.

Now, this may or may not have to do with the neurodivergence pieces of me! I think it does at least on the level that I have put on this mask in a desire to “fit in” and be like others.

To not rock the boat.

To be accepted.

Mostly to not be told that I’m wrong, naive, stupid…

Yep, that desire to fit in and be like everyone else is tied to my neurodivergence. I also think it’s tied to how I grew up! In a chaotic family situation. And perhaps it’s a facet of other parts of my personality. (But ones that definitely need not hold me back, I know that for a fact.)

It really doesn’t matter where it came from nor to what it’s tied - not for this conversation!

I realized I’ve been hiding my joy, hiding my positivity/optimism, in an effort to protect myself from ridicule and standing out.

In a world where there’s a lot of harm, hurt, suffering, pain, tragedy, and cruelty, it’s very easy to get sucked down into a dark and gloomy mindset about it all.

I’ve always known that there’s a difference between recognizing the hurt and feeling the pain with those who are hurting, feeling anger at injustices…

And getting lost in it all, hopeless and defeated. Fearful. Cynical. Vindictive.

Those are two wildly different stances, My Friends!

The former (feeling the pain, the sadness, the anger) can exist right alongside copious amounts of joy and hope.

Optimism is rooted in knowing that infinite possibilities exist. There is always another way. There is always a better way.

It’s knowing that Love is still in this world, and that you get to be a part of bringing that through.

The more you personally align with Love, the more you find others who are also aligning with Love - it’s an energetic magnetism thing!

And when people come together with Love in common? That’s when change happens.

We don’t have to know every solution ourselves - that’s not our job!

Our job is to hold the vision, know that anything is possible, and spread/be the Love wherever we feel led.

Use our gifts. Donate. Just be incredibly kind and Loving to those we see every day!

The littlest things add up. The little things aren’t truly little.

Another Loving thing we can do is be Joy.

Yes, be Joy. Not joyful, but Joy. (Being joyful is an extension of being/embodying Joy.)

The energy of Joy, however that wants to express through you.

It can be quiet or it can be loud. But however it presents…it can be felt by all.

Joy is tied to Love.

Joy brightens, uplifts, unlocks.

Joy is fuel.

Joy reminds us of what’s possible!

Joy energizes.

And we need not hide our Joy.

Following our Joy can happen right alongside feeling our sadness and anger for the world and what’s happening to other humans at the hands of other humans.

It’s not either/or - it’s both/and.

Joy is YOUR fuel! Joy keeps you going.

Just like we need nourishment and rest, we need Joy. Joy is an essential ingredient to a full life. And a full life is a life of impact!

When we align with Joy, we align with Soul. Just like what happens when we align with Love!

Any time we align with Soul, we remember a little more of Who We Are.

We get new visions for what we want to and can do. We share a different energy everywhere we go.

Just because you have a vision for the world that doesn’t match with those around you doesn’t mean you are wrong, silly, naive, stupid…

You, Sweet Dear, could be the very one to be the change! That could be your role. That could be where Soul has chosen for you to be.

But if we shrink back, we won’t be the change.

You will know, deep down, if you are being naive. If you are choosing positivity and a grand vision in an effort to escape.

But I know you’re not doing that - neither am I.

It won’t feel good if that’s what you’re doing! There’s no mistaking it. That’s rooted in fear and a disbelief in infinite possibilities. It’s hiding. It’s not in alignment with the Truth.

Misalignment always makes itself known to you.

Please don’t hide your Joy.

Please help us all to laugh.

Please remind us of the Joy that exists within each of us.

Please engage in all the things that light you up that others may put down - their opinions don’t matter.

Please don’t mask your happiness, excitement, childlike wonder and nature, optimism, and vision.

Please don’t let the world drag you down.

Please don’t let others drag you down in telling you what you must believe and do and think!

Please be the change that you came here to be. That’s not pressure - that’s encouragement. Permission. (Permission that you don’t actually need!)

You are not silly, unkind, uncaring for prioritizing your Joy, fun, excitement, and happiness.

You, alone, know what’s in alignment.

The world needs your Joy just like you do.

No more hiding, okay? You and me - no more hiding.

Together, in a million different ways, we’re changing this world 🌎

Thank you for being here, Sweet Soul ✨

Until Next Time…

Katie Anne

I would adore connecting on Instagram! And I would also love for you to come hang out on the podcast with me.