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Wear A Mask

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“Wear a mask???”  LOL, no, I am not saying to cover your face.  I’m also not saying that wearing a mask will improve your relationships, though I am sure you can make lots of jokes about some of your friends using that line.  I am talking about this quote I read from the book The 48 Laws Of Power by Robert Greene,

“Dignity is the mask to assume under difficult circumstances:  it is as if nothing can affect you and you have all the time in the world to respond.”

People Will Challenge You

There are people in this world who will challenge your character, your actions, and your principles.  They will do things to purposely try to upset you and too many times you may let them.  I am guilty of this.  In today’s society and all the media available on TV, we tend to believe that we can’t let someone “one up” us.  We can’t be embarrassed and let someone say something rude to us.  We have to stand up for ourselves.  “Only the strong survive” and we are strong.  The problem is that we are not always our best when we are upset.  We let ourselves get easily offended and then go on the aggressive.  Often times is the case that when we go on the aggressive, we don’t show our best sides or we do something we shouldn’t do.  And people remember this.  Also, if you are known for this type of behavior, and someone wants to “throw you off your game,” then they know exactly what to do to get in your head.  This is not where you want them.

Life Will Challenge You

Life doesn’t care who you are.  Rich or poor, black or white, man or woman…it doesn’t care.  We will all be challenged by life.  We will all go through good times and bad.  The question is, how will you respond?  Will you be in control or be controlled?  Will you be one of the calm ones who thinks rationally and comes up with a plan?  Or will you be someone who loses all control, goes wild, and makes the situation worse?  What do you do when life throws you a curve ball?

“Dignity is the mask…”

When someone is trying to upset you and get in your head, or life throws you a curve ball, this is where author Robert Greene is saying you have to be dignified.  Make it seem as if nothing can affect you.  No matter what they say, they are not going to upset you.  And be patient.  Just because someone says something rude or is aggressive towards you, doesn’t mean you have to respond immediately and with aggression.  Let them say what they have to say.  It doesn’t mean they are right, and even if they are right in some of the things they say, you can remain calm and take your time in responding.  

Final Thoughts

I know it’s tough to remain calm when someone is coming at you and talking trash.  Simply remember that trash is all it is.  Being mean, upset, or aggressive is not the way to respond.  Or if life throws one of its many challenges, stay calm and speak calmly.  If you can stay in control of your feelings, you can put all your brain power to resolving the conflict, or at least coming out of it in control.  Don’t let someone else get into your head with just words they say.  If someone is upset, it doesn’t mean you have to be upset.  Remain dignified and in control.  People will remember how calm and in control you were.  In the end, you will be happier and your relationships will be better because of it.

Don’t put a wall of anger up when someone tries to upset you or life isn’t fair.  Simply accept what is coming at you and respond calmly and in control.  It’s in these times where relationships are either strengthened or weakened.  You can handle anyone who comes at your or whatever life throws at you.  Remember to wear the mask of dignity because you are in control!!!

The 48 Laws Of Power was a great book.  If you want to give it a read, pick it up via my Amazon affiliate link here:

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