An alter ego is a second-self created by the individual–usually to live out a better version of the self.
In comic books, Bruce Wayne runs his business during the day, and Peter Parker works as a photographer for the Daily Bugle. However, they each have a crime-fighting alter-ego who makes an appearance when needed. Wayne has Batman and Parker has Spider-man.
Pop artists are also known for their alter-egos. After all, apart from their talent, they’re just regular people. But when they’re on stage they need to appear to be larger than life. Many times, they do this by creating elaborate personas for themselves. Here are two examples:
- British singer and songwriter David Bowie had several alter egos, but the most famous was Ziggy Stardust—a humanoid alien. Ziggy allowed Bowie to distance himself from the boy from Beckenham and become fearless.
- A few years back, American singer and songwriter Beyoncé Knowles created an alter ego which she named Sasha Fierce. She described Sasha as being fun, sensual, glamorous, and aggressive. Beyoncé let Sasha out when she was on stage. This alter ego protected Beyoncé’s self-identify as someone who was reserved and very ladylike.
There are many more examples of people—both real and imaginary—who have famous alter egos. But if you’re not a pop star, and you’ve never been bitten by a radioactive spider, why would you want an alter ego? The answer is that having an alter ego can help you in many ways.
Here are some of the benefits of having an alter ego:
- It can help you to step out of your comfort zone.
- Having an alter ego can be very empowering.
- You can channel your genius through your alter ego.
- An alter ego can give you some distance from yourself.
- Having an alter ego can make life more fun.
First we’ll take a look at these benefits one by one, and then you’ll discover how to create your alter ego.
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
I encourage people to step out of their comfort zone on this blog all the time. Nonetheless, I know that it can be scary to leave the safety of what you know and step out into the unknown. After all, every time that you’re about to try something new, the little voice in your head—also known as your ego—begins with its whining:
- What are you doing? Stop! Why would you take any risks?
- What if you look stupid?
- What will people think?
- What if people laugh at you?
- Who do you think you are? You’re not brave/smart/strong enough to do that!
That’s when an alter ego can come to the rescue. Your alter ego can be a way for you to step out of your comfort zone. It can come to the rescue when you’re facing a new challenge which fills you with doubt or fear. Look at the following:
- The ego says: “That’s too scary. I better not do that.” The alter-ego says: “That sounds exciting! When can I get started?”
- The ego says: “But what will they say?”. The alter-ego says: “Don’t those people have anything better to do than gossip about others? Let them think what they want. Their opinions aren’t going to get in the way of my living my best life.”
- The ego says: “What if I fail?” The alter-ego says: “If I fail, at least I’ll know I gave it a shot.”
By switching from your ego to your alter-ego, you’ll be switching characters. You’ll have a window of opportunity during which you can be brave and let go of your hang-ups. Use that window of opportunity to push against your comfort zone and try something new.
Your Alter-Ego Can Empower You
Your alter-ego isn’t somebody else—it’s you. But it’s a part of you that you don’t normally allow yourself access to.
Maybe as a kid you were told that girls shouldn’t be so aggressive. Or maybe you were told that boys who took too many risks always got into trouble. Therefore, you buried those aspects of yourself so deep, you forgot they were there. But they are still there.
Look at the following quote by life coach and author Iyanla Vanzant: “There is a force within you that is ruthless, fearless, and powerful. And you have every right to tap into that force and use it to your own advantage.”
A well thought out alter ego can help you bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. It can allow you to step out of the box that you’ve created for yourself and do something that’s totally out of character for you.
Your alter ego can help you get out of your own way. It can show you who you could be.
Channel Your Genius
In “Becoming A Writer”, Dorothea Brande—an American author, lecturer and magazine editor–writes the following:
“But there is no scandal and no danger in recognizing that you have more than one side to your character. The journals and letters of men of genius are full of admissions of their sense of being dual or multiple in their nature: there is always the workaday man who walks, and the genius who flies. The idea of the alter ego, the other self, or higher self, recurs wherever genius becomes conscious of its own processes, and we have testimony for it in age after age.”
As I explain in “The One-Hour-A-Day Formula”, during the day you can be an average, ordinary person: you go to a job that pays the bills, clean up around the house, and cook dinner. However, for one hour a day—in the morning before anyone else has woken up, or at night after they’ve all gone to bed—you perform your Sacred Dance.
- You play a musical instrument.
- You work on your novel.
- You learn to code so that you can build that app you can’t stop thinking about.
- You dance.
- You paint.
- You do whatever it is that you were put on this earth to do.
During that hour, you allow your alter ego to take over, and you channel your genius.
Create Distance from Yourself
Jane McGonigal, PhD, explains in her book SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully that alter egos can help give us distance from ourselves. This can help us deal better with the past, the present, and the future.
In terms of the past, McGonigal explains that if you’re dealing with painful memories or traumatic experiences, you’ll experience less stress and anxiety if you tell yourself that they happened to somebody else. That is, tell yourself that they happened to your alter-ego.
This will allow you to work through the issues that arise because of the traumatic event without being overwhelmed by negative emotions.
When it comes to the present, McGonigal informs us that distancing helps willpower. As an illustration, suppose that you’re trying to cut back on pastries. Then you see a bakery while you’re running errands, and you’re tempted to go in and get yourself a donut. Do the following:
- Don’t ask, “Do I want a donut?”
- Instead, ask: “Does my alter ego want a donut?”
This works because when you think of yourself in the first person you’re more likely to get caught up in your momentary feelings and cravings.
But when you think of your alter ego you’re more likely to make good decisions on their behalf. The self-distance that you create when you think in terms of what your alter ego should do allows you to focus on the bigger picture and on your long-term goals.
Lastly, when it comes to the future, you’ll be more willing to take on challenges if you think of your alter ego taking on the challenge, instead of yourself. After all, it won’t be you having to face obstacles and risking failure. It will be your alter ego.
Make Life More Fun
Steve Kamb is the owner of the blog Nerd Fitness and author of Level Up Your Life: How to Unlock Adventure and Happiness by Becoming the Hero of Your Own Story. He explains that he loves video games and was inspired by them to gamify his life. That is, to take game elements and apply them to non-game contexts, such as exercise.
In video games, players have avatars, and avatars are basically alter egos. Therefore, as part of his gamification strategy, Kamb created a superhero alter ego.
As an example of how he would use his alter ego to make life more fun, Kamb would “turn into” his alter ego when it was time to go to the gym. Then, it wasn’t Steve going to the gym to exercise and cross one more chore off his to-do list.
Instead, it was his alter ego creating a superhero body so that he would have the strength and stamina necessary to complete missions and go on epic quests. Here’s Steve:
“By day, I’m Steve Kamb, a full-time blogger and all-around goofball who smiles way too much and spends too much time at his computer. Every afternoon though, I transform into the rebel version of myself: a Vibram-wearing, ripped t-shirt-uniformed machine of a rebel that will exercise anywhere and everywhere in a city. I wear a permanent scowl on my face. . .”
A good reason to create an alter ego is to make life more fun.
How to Create Your Alter Ego
There are six steps you can follow in order to create an alter ego. These steps are the following:
1. Determine Why You Want an Alter Ego.
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 you more blog readers or YouTube subscribers? Do you need someone to stand up for you? Give your alter ego a task, purpose, or mission.
2. Figure Out Your Alter Ego’s Personality.
What kind of person does your alter ego need to be in order to achieve the goal for which it was created? How do they think? What’s their mindset? What are their thinking models? Your alter ego’s personality could even be a reflection of your ideal self—the personality that you would like to have.
3. Create a Distinct Image.
Maybe you’re a jeans and t-shirt kind of person, but your alter ego is high fashion all the way. Or maybe your alter ego only wears black, or favors hooded sweatshirts.
Does your alter ego have any mannerisms? How do they walk? What does their voice sound like? How does she wear her hair? Does he wear hats? The more details you can provide for your alter ego, the easier it will be for you to inhabit their character.
4. Pick a Name.
Try to come up with a name that is significant for you and has meaning. You can base it on the name of someone you admire, or the name of your favorite superhero. In addition, you can simply add an adjective to your name (like “the Great”), or use your own name spelled backwards.
5. Adopt a Mantra or a Call to Action.
A call to action can help you invoke your alter ego when they’re needed. In the 1970’s there was a TV show called “The Secrets of Isis”. In the series, the Egyptian goddess Isis is the alter ego of Andrea Thomas, a seemingly normal schoolteacher.
When facing a crisis, Andrea would transform into Isis by exposing an amulet –which she found during an archaeological dig– to the sun, and saying “Oh mighty Isis”. You can call on your alter ego with a similar phrase.
6. Act Like They Would Act.
You’re not just creating an alter ego to escape into a Walter Mitty fantasy world. Instead, you’re creating an alter ego to help you act in a way that will allow you to achieve your goals. Once you’ve created your alter ego, you need to ask yourself how they would act when it comes to achieving the goal that you created them for. Then, proceed to act in that way.
Conclusion
Can you see all the possibilities that will become available to you if you create an alter ego? Live your best life by creating an alter ego.
Related Posts:
- The 20-Point Personality Chart
- How to Become a Superhero
- How to Level Up In Life – Turn Your Life Into a Game
- 10 Steps for Guaranteed Goal Achievement
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FAQs
Is it OK to create an alter ego? ›
Generally, there's no such thing as an alter ego that's too thought-out. As long as you don't start blurring the mental line between your alter ego and your true self, feel free to create as detailed of an alter ego as you see fit.
What makes up an alter ego? ›An alter ego (Latin for "other I", "doppelgänger") means an alternate self, which is believed to be distinct from a person's normal or true original personality. Finding one's alter ego will require finding one's other self, one with a different personality.
Can I create an alter? ›She became frightened often and didn't like to be alone. Because of this, Colette created an alter. We came to call this personality, "Mother." Any one of a person's alter personalities can create a new alter.
How do you bring out alters? ›A positive trigger is something non-trauma related and is pleasant enough to cause an alter to come forward and experience happy emotions, such as a special toy, cute puppies, or a favorite ice cream flavor. A positive trigger, in some instances, can be used to bring forth an alter.
What is Beyonce's alter ego? ›But Beyoncé isn't the only name she's known by; in the early days of her solo career the singer created a new alternative identity for herself — Sasha Fierce.
Do narcissists create alter egos? ›The narcissist has a fake, substitute Ego. This is why his energy is drained. He spends most of it on maintaining, protecting and preserving the warped, unrealistic images of his (False) Self and of his (fake) world. The narcissist is a person exhausted by his own absence.
How long does alter ego last? ›| Single-Player | Polled | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Main Story | 12 | 8h 52m |
| Completionist | 5 | 9h 50m |
| All PlayStyles | 17 | 9h 15m |
Using an alter ego is a mental technique that can be used by anyone to get over fears, anxiety and self doubt that keep us from becoming the successful, confident person we have inside us.
What are the three types of alter ego? ›In fiction, a character's alter ego can take several forms—a hidden identity, a secondary personality, or a secret life being led in addition to a normal life.
Is alter ego a mental disorder? ›Dissociative identity disorder.
Formerly known as multiple personality disorder, this disorder is characterized by "switching" to alternate identities.
How do I find my alter ego? ›
- STEP 1: Live in Context. To build an Alter Ego and live as your heroic self, you need to get specific as to which particular field you want to improve. ...
- STEP 2: Identify the Frustration. ...
- STEP 3: The Flipside. ...
- STEP 4: Find Your Superpowers. ...
- STEP 5: The Activation Event.
The different identities, referred to as alters, may exhibit differences in speech, mannerisms, attitudes, thoughts and gender orientation. The alters may even present physical differences, such as allergies, right-or-left handedness or the need for eyeglass prescriptions.
What does DID splitting feel like? ›Sudden mood swings: When someone is in a splitting episode, it can cause rapid and dramatic changes in mood, unstable emotions, and impulsive behavior. They might instantly become furious or thrilled, even if they felt the opposite way before.
Can you talk to alters in your head? ›For those with co-conscious alters, communication is similar to talking with any other person, just without the presence of a separate physical body. It may be difficult, however, when you have alters or parts of you that you are not conscious of.
How do alters get their names? ›The names of the alters often have a symbolic meaning. For example, Melody might be the name of a personality who expresses herself through music. Or the personality could be given the name of its function, such as “The Protector” or “The Perpetrator”.
What does alter switching feel like? ›Some indicators that a switch may be about to occur include the following: feeling "spacey", depersonalized, or derealized; blurred vision; feeling distanced or slowed down; feeling an alter's presence; or feeling like time is beginning to jump (indicating minor episodes of time loss).
What is an alter ego mask? ›Think of your special mask as an alter ego—a version of yourself you've always wanted to be! An alter ego is a version of you, but with a different personality. What version of yourself do you want to be?
Who is Lady Gaga alter ego? ›Jo Calderone is a fictional male alter-ego to Lady Gaga created in 2010.
What gender is alter ego? ›Hifumi explains that Alter Ego is the only "girl" that ever listened to him about his personal interests (heavily implied to be inappropriate) and he feels comfortable around "her".
What does a depressed narcissist look like? ›They're often introverted, sensitive, and prone to experiencing anxiety and shame. They may also struggle to maintain close friendships as they focus heavily on themselves, require attention, and are hyper-sensitive to perceived criticism.
What personality type do narcissists hate? ›
Type As can also be dangerous to narcissists
Although they can be targeted, type A people can also become a narcissist's worst nightmare. One of the most important defenses against dark personalities is having strong boundaries yourself, and type A people are usually aware they have the right to build them.
Dissociative identity disorder was previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), sometimes incorrectly called "split personality", it is characterized by the presence of more than one sense of identity within a single human body. These alternate identities are commonly known as alters or dissociated parts.
What are the negative effects of alter ego? ›The encounter with our alter ego causes fear, because it implies the loss of personal identity, it causes dissociation and entry into madness (alienation).
What is a super alter ego? ›The concept of the superhero alter-ego is one that has sparked debates for the ages. The idea that these super-characters use other identities to keep their heroic exploits under wraps adds layer upon layer to the psychology of the superhero, as well as giving rise to drama, comedy and, above all, plot twists.
Does faking confidence build confidence? ›Fake confidence won't work long-term
However, if we seek long-term confidence, faking it won't help us improve that skill. The well-known advice: “Fake it till you make it” isn't really appropriate when it comes to building confidence. Overall, it is bad advice.
Here are a few signs that someone is behaving based on ego and has low self-esteem: They are disconnected from their real Self, showing a false self to the world. They don't behave in a way that aligns with their Core Values. They are often thin-skinned, quick to become angry when someone has a different point of view.
Do confident people have egos? ›To have confidence is to have faith in your own abilities and believe in yourself, but the ego is something else, entirely. Unlike confidence, the ego operates out of self-interest. It seeks approval, accolades and validation at all costs in order to be seen as “right”.
What is the mixing ratio for alter ego? ›MIXING RATIO: 1:2 for intense lightening or 1:3 for medium lightening.
What is negative alter ego? ›The encounter with our alter ego causes fear, because it implies the loss of personal identity, it causes dissociation and entry into madness (alienation). This subjective perception of being different (the alter ego) is a negative experience projected outwards.
How many alter egos can a person have? ›These differences between alters are often quite striking. A person living with DID may have as few as two alters or as many as 100. The average number is about 10. Often alters are stable over time, continuing to play specific roles in the person's life for years.
What is another word for alter ego? ›
soul mate, evil twin, second self, buddy, chum, confidante, counterpart, pal.
What's the difference between alter ego and doppelganger? ›Alter ego refers to a one character with two opposing sides. Foil refers to two characters that are juxtaposed in order to highlight the differences in their nature. We mostly use the term doppelganger to refer to two people who bear an uncanny physical resemblance.
Do all people have alter ego? ›The truth is, we all have an alter ego, or two. Yes, whether you like it or not you have both an ego and an alter ego. As we allow ourselves to become aware of this, we will then find a heightened ability to 'engage in a creative play' with both our ego and our alter ego.
What is an example of alter ego rule? ›For example, if Ed shot Frank while he was attacking Joe with a knife, the criminal defense attorney would argue that if Ed was standing in Joe's shoes, he would have believed that he needed to use deadly force to defend himself.
How do you use alter ego hair color? ›- Apply the colour to dry, unwashed hair mixed with Coactivator.
- Mixture ratio according to the service and the desired result.
- Waiting time according to the work to be performed.