Feeding the Alter-ego

Why creating an alter-ego and boosting it at times, can help 🐱‍👓

When people read "alter-ego", many a time some think it might be the evil in us or a part of us which is not right. Though it might seem like it at times, I think this is not always true and I'm sure many share the same opinion. I see it as more of a hidden, latent character within us that truly represents the raw us, OR for some, it is their dream self which might even have stark opposite behavioural traits than their current self. The second type is what I'll be stressing about in this blog.

This is more because usually the alter-ego is that part of us that is not restrained by societal expectations or it is not supposed to make choices in a certain way because of where you come from or your past experiences. And due to this fact, I think empowering this character sometimes instead of completely ignoring it can help.

I was surprised!

I do read but I think not as much as I should which is why I was unaware of how well-known this concept is! I had this mini-draft of this topic for a long time but only when I searched about it more, did I get to know that there are literally books on this, so many videos on it, and so many influential people have already practiced having an alter-ego, etc, etc, etc. And I was surprised!

Like Martin Luther King Jr! Despite not needing it, he liked to put on spectacles when he used to write speeches as he felt more guided and intellectual when he did that. That helped him in inhabiting his own alter-ego.

Similarly, Beyoncé was more of a shy girl when she was young and she created an alter ego named Sasha Fierce for a more bold and confident stage persona. Kobe Bryant's 'The Black Mamba' was the insanely strong alter-ego he created when his career was at rock bottom. And there are so many more!

Creating a constructive alter-ego

There's much more left to read on this topic on my part but from what I have read, it is creating your dream self-identity first and then aligning with it slowly, steadily, and whenever required. There are 3 basic rules to creating a constructive alter-ego -

1. Having an alter ego based on superficial choices will not be effective. For example, if your dream self's behavioural traits keep changing quickly based on social media trends or anything that you superficially find cool - this approach might not work for you. You need to find clarity first on what you truly want for this to work. And that work is to be done by you.

2. Identify what part of you do you not like and what behavioural traits that you now have, do you NOT want in your dream self? For instance, the way you walk into a room with your head downward is what you don't like. Build an image of your alter-ego based on you without all these negatives.

3. Align with your alter-ego (give it a name if you want to😂) and boost it when required, to do the things you really want to do.

Note - “The Alter Ego Effect” by Todd Herman is another book that I want to read, that also talks about how to create one in detail. You can give it a try if you want to know more about this in detail.

But still when and why?

One doesn't need some life-changing experience or downfall to start this. You can start to create one anytime. Just that it takes time and effort to introspect to be able to define their alter-ego clearly.

Are you stuck in an environment that seems to drain the energy out of you?

Do you want an identity shift?

Or maybe, are you in a self-pity phase since the last few days at a stretch?

Good time to wake up and boost your alternate self!

It can help increase your self-confidence.

It can help build a "new you" with time if that is what you want.

If you're an artist or a creator, having an alter ego will also give you creative freedom! For instance, you might be a singer who sings only soft songs but you want to try and practice a different power-packed genre - build an alter-ego of that in case you want it.

And having an alter-ego does not make us fake. Each one of us has different reactions and versions of ourselves based on various circumstances, environments, moods, etc. Creating an alter-ego based on a specific idea for a certain time or place is just like that. And in case you want to be your highest self based on your alter ego - that is also a choice that you make while keeping your own alternate self as an inspiration and slowly living into it. People do not even need to know about this self of you, let it be private if that suits you the best 💙

That's my take on the pros of creating a constructive alternate self after a lot of reading and a lot of thinking😂 It's been a while since I posted last and I hope you find this topic interesting.😇💕

<3,

Rashmi