the joy in wearing many hats
I’ve always been a hat person. My mom thinks I own about 100 more hats than I actually do. But I’m not talking about wearing literal hats today; the metaphorical hats of the roles you play: in yourself; your circles; your society; and life.
These hats are signatures of our persona…different talents, personality features, capacities, interests, superpowers we possess.
When we metaphorically put on said hat, we bring that set of characteristics to the surface and become someone new.
The mother. The daughter. The athlete. The hostess. The guest. The maiden. The marvel. The maestro. I could go on forever.
In Jungian psychology, these are called ‘archetypes.’
In Internal Family Systems (IFS), these are called ‘parts.’
To the artist, these are called ‘colors.’
Whatever you call the hat, the hat represents the bridge from a rigid self to a malleable self.
The hat represents the opportunity to switch gears, overcome fears, and sometimes even engage dears you wouldn’t normally engage.
This is the joy of being a human being—well, one of them!
In the literal realm of hat-donning, when I put on my cowgirl hat, I feel playful, adventurous, a little cheeky. When I put on my dry-fit workout hat, I feel ninja-like, serious, and ready to get down to business. When I put on my flat-rimmed LA Dodgers hat, I feel strange—like a part of the crowd, rooting for people I don’t know in a city I don’t live. When I put on my beanie, I feel tucked in, safe, warm, and ready for battle simultaneously.
I think of wearing different hats as a sign of adaptability in the realm of the human experience.
Adaptability is a superpower when used with firm boundaries, because it allows you to thrive in any situation. It is not putting on a camouflage suit and hiding within a sea of people; it really has nothing to do with what you wear, in fact. It is about showing up just as you are—confident and shining in your own flesh, and learning to thrive in whatever the conditions of your current environment.
What hats do you wear in your life?
Are all of the ones that come to mind roles that serve others? Jobs?
Do any hats come up that honor something unique or special within you—by no one else’s evaluation but your own?
Are there any hats you want to wear but are too afraid to?
Would you like to remove a hat from your collection that doesn’t fit your wardrobe anymore?
I hope you enjoyed this variety on noticing the various parts of yourself, and how you—much like choosing your outfit for the day, can put on and take off a hat at any time.
