Halloween, a Great Time to Reflect on Authenticity

Happy Halloween! It's a fun day for those of us with children as we witness their excitement over dressing up as their favorite Superhero or Princess before hitting the neighborhood in search of their favorite treats (I hope mine get lots of Reese's peanut butter cups). Even adults enjoy getting dressed up as someone they are not for a night of fun with their friends. Halloween also presents a good time to think about our own authenticity during the rest of the year.

When today is over, and you've taken off the mask you wore to that once a year party, is there another mask underneath that is still preventing others from seeing the real you? We all have different roles in life, all of which have different responsibilities and protocols; yet wearing multiple hats in life (parent, spouse, friend, colleague, profession, etc...) does not mean we have to wear different masks. It's difficult to separate sometimes, since we are constantly bombarded with images and ideas of who we should be and how we should act, yet the earlier in life we are encouraged to be ourselves, the easier it is grow and mature while feeling comfortable being authentic.

My role as a Colorado Springs Mortgage Lender requires me to adhere to certain standards which are common for the industry, such as wearing appropriate attire or following certain protocols, these are components of my role as a Mortgage Professional. This role however, does not prohibit me from being authentic in who I am as a person. I can still be honest with my clients, colleagues and business associates, treating them with respect and truthfully communicating the options available to them based on their situation. Sometimes my professional advice or recommendations are not what people are hoping to hear, yet being truthful, honest and real with them in my role as a Colorado Springs Mortgage Lender is part of being authentic.

Believe me, I still have work to do regarding authenticity in the roles I find myself, as over the years the messages of "who you should be" verses "who you are" still find their way into my daily thinking. So as you prepare for Halloween, take the time to reflect on the masks you wear that cover the real you; and if you have children, use this opportunity to encourage them to be themselves, as the message is easier to learn when you're young.