Jewel Diamond Taylor s an authentic, highly acclaimed, witty, knowledgeable, in-demand, and international conference speaker, life coach, author, founder of Women on the Grow, Inc. 501c3 …

     A few months ago a sisterfriend of mine attended my weekly Wednesday Word Class regularly shared how she was taking off her mask of pain and shame.  The week before her statement I was teaching about the emotional masks women wear (i.e.superwoman, high achiever, rescuer, martyr, savior, damsel in distress, the good daughter, the clown, the good wife, etc.)  

      We discussed how we survive troubled times by hiding behind our emotional masks.  Audrey shared how years ago she was violently attacked by a man who stepped on her face which left a permanent mark of his footprint on her face.  She was left blind in one eye as a result.  As you can imagine, she wanted to hide the scar and cover her feelings of low self-esteem, fear and a poor self-image.

     During my class on this particular night, Audrey came that night wearing NO make-up.  She gladly proclaimed after attending my class on emotional healing…she was no longer going to hide behind the mask of her make-up.  She came that night with a smile and NO makeup.  She wanted to be free of the emotional and physical stain of pain from the attacker.  Of course, she will continue to wear make up when she feels the need…but not because she wants to hide behind a mask of shame.

How often do you allow past hurts to block our joy?

What mask do you wear to cover your hurts, pain, fear and insecurities?

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and  girded me with gladness. ~ Psalm 30:11

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows].   ~ Psalm 147:3