Alter Ego--Who's yours? · Inspired Life, Empowered Being

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Alter Ego--Who's yours?

If you don't want to read the rest, that's okay, but I reeeeeeally wanna know who your alter ego is! How does it show up? Have you named it? Feel free to add a GIF or a picture to represent it or a comment to expand! :) :) For more, read below!

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A lot of people think of alter egos as costumes or a masquerade....something fake, exaggerated, or a hiding of some sort. Buuuuut, psychologically, they're often not that at all.

An alter ego is usually a contained expression of a real part of the self, maybe one that doesn’t always feel safe, welcome, or effective in everyday life BUT may feel VERY effective in some circumstances...

Alter egos are often created because different situations demand different capacities... Beyonce was the first person that came to mind for this--her alter ego "Sasha Fierce" (bold, fierce, commanding on stage) but there are other examples as well.

The idea of courage without overthinking is attractive to me this year. ha. SOoooo much thinking.

If you're hesitant, like I was, here's some reassurance..the problem isn’t having an alter ego, but rather having one that runs the show unconsciously. I almost think that "alter-ego" is a misnomer.

When used intentionally, the alter ego can provide psychological distance during stress, reduce emotional overlaod by narrowing focus, help bypass fear, shame and people pleasing patterns and act as a bridge between values and action. Used unconsciously, it can become armor that's rigid, isolating, or self-erasing.

But here's the thing....coming from someone that appreciates the IFS (internal family systems) model, I like the idea of integrating the different parts rather than having them be polarized/hidden. Being called upon with intention rather than being reactive and causing chaos.Maybe the 'shadow' side comes out when things are more reactive but ultimately, an alter ego would be part of the whole picture. :) An integrated self is a healthy self. Being able to move between states consciously is healthy. It's really about allowing more of the self to come out...intentionally.

Integration means recognizing which part is driving, letting it do its job, and inviting other parts back to the table (e.g. protector sets the boundary, truth-teller names the reality, peacemaker repairs what’s repairable). No single part should run the system alone. Anyways, I went off on a tangent here and that's a whole different topic I think. ha.

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QUESTION: Do YOU have an alter ego? How does it show up? Have you named it?? :) :) Post a GIF or a picture or add a comment! Would LOVE to hear more about YOU! :) I

POLL: What role do alter egos play in your life?

Alter Ego Action Step

“Step Into Their Shoes for 10 Minutes”

Goal: Activate a specific alter ego deliberately to access traits you might be holding back.

How to do it:

Choose an alter ego
Identify the trait you need in a current context (courage, boundaries, honesty, calm).
Set a 10-minute timer. During this time: Move, speak, and think as if you were that alter ego; Ask: “What would they do in this moment?”; Engage with the task, conversation, or challenge through that lens
Debrief: After 10 minutes, pause and reflect:What did you notice? Which behaviors felt natural or uncomfortable? Could you integrate any of this into your default self?

Psychological insight: This is essentially state-dependent practice-it trains your brain to access different skills or courage on demand without confusion or suppression of your core self.

*this is not permission to go be a menace...haha. Just in case that lil caveat needs to be written down*

Friendly reminder that integration is better than polarization in regards to this. :)

I use them intentionally (performance, boundaries, courage)

They show up automatically under stress

I don’t think I have one… but now I’m reconsidering

I resist the idea entirely

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