GET SH*T DONE BY CREATING AN ALTER EGO
Illustration by Helen Green
The Alter Ego Effect is not about creating a false mask. It's a proven way of overcoming the self-doubt, negativity, and insecurity that hold you back.
Have you ever daydreamed about being so filthy rich that you could become a playboy, philanthropist, and industrialist and, on top of that, swear vengeance against criminals by hiding your identity wearing a bat suit?... I might have, once or twice, during a never-ending Zoom call, but that is neither here nor there.
My point is that none of us is strange to the concept of alter egos. We inherently know what they are and how to play with them, but alter egos could also be a powerful psychological tool away from comic books and childhood play.
Our imagination exists in a place called "the ordinary world". This is where our internal beliefs, paradigms, fears, and stories define our identity. The interaction with these made-up stories is what generates feelings of not being good enough, smart enough, confident enough and, consequently, preventing us from achieving our goals. Creating an alter ego could help us overwrite our limited beliefs by playing in an "extraordinary world".
What's an Alter Ego
The philosopher Cicero described alter ego as "trusted friend or other I", which means the concept of creating an alternative self, distinct from a person's normal or true original personality.
A few benefits of having an alter ego are:
It can help you to step out of your comfort zone.
It can empower you.
You can channel your genius through your alter ego.
An alter ego can give you some distance from yourself.
Many famous athletes, musicians and artists have used the concept of alter ego to help them disassociate with the image they think they are and step into a new persona that helps accelerates creativity and success.
David Jones, better known as David Bowie, created several alter egos, including Ziggy Stardust, to achieve his ambition of rock stardom and overcome an abusive, damaging childhood.
Former NFL player Bo Jackson transformed into his alter ego, Jason Voorhes (the mask-wearing murderer from the Friday 13th movies) every time he stepped into the football field. Adopting the persona of a calm and calculated killer helped Jackson stay cool and calm under pressure.
Famous POP artist Andy Warhol studied stardom from a very young age, which inspired him to create and embody a new persona as a way to overcome his insecurities and childhood trauma.
And the list goes on and on.
How to create our own alter ego
1. Determine Field of Play
It would be best to be specific about what area of your life makes you unhappy and then identify the particular moments holding you back. What does your internal dialogue holding you back sound like? What is that you are doing or not doing? What do you hope to achieve by creating an alter ego? Do you want to be more outgoing, confident, or unique? Do you want to create a persona that will get more attention or followers? Based on all that, you can give your alter ego a task, purpose, or mission-based on all these things.
2. Figure Out Your Alter Ego's Personality.
What kind of person does your alter ego need to be to achieve the goal for which it was created? How do they think? What's their mindset? Your alter ego's personality could even be someone you know, a superhero character or a combination of different people. You have a free-range as long as your alter ego means something to you and what you want to achieve.
3. Pick a Name.
Try to come up with an important name for you that has meaning. You can base it on the name of someone you admire or your favourite superhero. The intention here is to bring your alter ego into the real world.
4. Activate Your Alter Ego with a Physical Object.
The mind can turn an object into a "totem" symbol. There are many different types of objects to choose from. Your totem could be a piece of clothing or an accessory. It could be a picture or a pebble, or even an action like stepping onto the stage. Choose something meaningful to you.
To activate your totem, put it on or hold it but remember not to use it too often as you have to link meaning to it.
5. Act Like They Would Act.
You're not just creating an alter ego to escape into a fantasy world. Instead, you're creating an alter ego to help you act in a way that will allow you to achieve your goals. So that's why it is essential for you to feel comfortable with it. Test it out on your way to get a coffee or talk to a stranger. Act as if!
I have personally struggled with public speaking, self-promotion, or anything that calls attention to myself. On the other hand, you could say that advertising is just like Hollywood; you won't get too far without a big ego, so I might consider creating one for myself after digging into the concept of alter egos.