The Alter Ego Effect

The Alter Ego Effect offers a practical approach on how to construct and benefit from alter egos, or the little heroes inside you, so as to achieve your desired goals and build a successful life with the help of a few key role models that you can borrow some attributes from or even impersonate in times of need.

As we go through life, discomfort, pain, uncomfortable feelings, and many other challenges are likely to strike multiple times. Sometimes they may feel overwhelming, or impossible to get through, so what is there to do? Ask your alter ego! Your mind is an outstanding part of you. It is the most powerful tool you have at your disposal, so why not use it in your favour?

Creating an alter ego can enhance your silent attributes. These are the ones that are difficult for you to access on a day-to-day basis. If you don’t know your weaknesses well, or just find it hard to build this superhero persona right away, try identifying the areas in your life where you feel unhappy. Then, think about the changes you should make by filtering your thoughts through the five categories of change: stopping, starting, continuing, less of, and more of.

Let’s say you have a passion for dancing. You want to dance more, but you procrastinate a lot after you come home tired from your job. The change you ought to make can look like “I want to dance more.” Perfect! Your alter ego loves to dance, and they wouldn’t let anything interfere with their passion. Next time you want to awaken that spirit within, just use this psychological hack.

Just like you can awaken silent talents within your alter ego, you can repress self-destructive behaviours and negative emotions in the same way. Start by attributing them to another character, and treat them like another person, different from you. You know this person well, but it is not you, and you want to get rid of them. For example, maybe you have performance anxiety. You can take your fears, such as being too shy, or not being a good or charismatic public speaker. Then, associate them with a new person in your mind. Give them a different name, make them your enemy, and then make them look weaker, smaller, and easy to defeat. Then, change the way you talk about yourself and to yourself. If you keep thinking that certain negative attributes or weaknesses are a part of who you are, that’s how they’ll stay. Instead, try setting the bar high for yourself and establish goals that motivate you to become better and improve your weaknesses. Look for your “why”, and ask yourself how to accomplish…