The Person Underneath The Mask
Written by: Jhon Abaga, Admin/Creator – Life Exploration
Date updated: September 17, 2023
Date Published: August 4, 2020
I want to share another word from Frank W. Abagnale's novel, "Catch Me If You Can." He stated, "A man's alter ego is nothing more than his favorite image of himself." In today's society, there is an undeniable pressure for individuals to conform and change themselves to fit into a mold that is deemed acceptable by society. This pressure can be seen in various aspects of life, such as personal identity, appearance, and behavior.
People also have different facets of personality (Priankaa, n.d.). Some people pretend to be someone else; they have become the person they wish to be. This stems from our perception of what we should be—the character, personality, and other characteristics our genuine selves lack. A completely different persona than their own selves.
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People frequently feel pressured to change because they believe that to be accepted by others, they must adopt a different persona. This pressure, however, can hurt individuals, leading to a loss of authenticity and a sense of self.
Sometimes, people change because they think they must change into a different persona that society can accept—the person you see when you look in the mirror.
As humans, we, too, have anxieties and judgments that cause us to play small in life. Todd Herman described it as being born to be a superhero. "However, we deliberately take on the role of someone a society could accept and not get rejected." According to his theory, people construct multiple identities by selecting some chosen qualities from their personalities. Which a person thinks can fit into the society or environment they belong to.
There are different reasons why people embrace alter egos rather than their true identities. One of the reasons is that a person creates a distinct personality as a coping mechanism. According to Todd Herman, as cited by Sia Priankaa (n.d.), alter egos help us express ourselves the way we can't. She also stated that our personalities change depending on where and who we are with. People can cope with varied life events by adopting a distinct character.
Society often dictates certain norms and values that individuals adhere to. For example, individuals are expected to be successful, ambitious, and competitive. They are also expected to conform to moral and ethical standards set by society. When individuals deviate from these expectations, they may face criticism, judgment, or exclusion. As a result, people may feel compelled to alter their behavior to fit in and escape social repercussions.
Furthermore, some people are using their alter egos to gain an advantage over other people. While others wanted to be more confident, fearless, or have higher self-esteem, these are some reasons a person behaves differently depending on the situation.
As a result, our personalities change based on the places and people around us—our character and temperament, when we are alone or with family members, are frequently different when we are with friends or workplace.
We all have methods and techniques to cope and to gain people around us. Some of you may believe that being a different person is required to cope with the environment and society, saying that having a unique persona helps you get through the day with the individuals you've met and will meet. Yes, that will do. While the other party may not agree,
Again, everyone came with personal reasons regarding this matter, and both are understandable. However, whatever the reason, we have no right to judge one another. We need to grasp the causes behind them to have a specific interaction with them. That is our role as human beings.
The saddest part of this matter is that sometimes people forget who they are underneath the mask. Perhaps our "alter ego" is our favorite image of ourselves—you may see it as probably way better than the real you. More courageous, more fearless, more confident than your true self, and so on. You may think your true self doesn't have those qualities to cope with society, but that is not true.
Think about yourself, think deeply, and ask yourself if you really need to be a different person than you already are. That's the one that I want to highlight in this article.
The quality of the person you need to get through the day is already inside you. You have to believe in yourself and be yourself.
Self-belief forms the foundation for unlocking your inner potential. It is the unwavering faith in your abilities and the confidence to take on challenges. When you believe in yourself, you tap into a wellspring of motivation and determination that propels you forward. This belief is not based on external validation or comparison to others but on recognizing your unique talents, strengths, and experiences that make you who you are.
Accept your genuine self, love your true self, and bring forth the best attributes of your true self already within you. You don't need to be someone else. You don't need an alter ego or a different personality—you already have the guts, bravery, confidence, goodness, and other attributes you seek. You don't have to pretend to be someone else.
Recognizing and embracing your abilities is critical to unlocking your inner potential. Each person has a distinct set of characteristics that can be utilized to achieve greatness. Take some time to consider your accomplishments, talents, and interests. You can harness your inner potential and channel it toward attaining your goals by discovering and focusing on your strengths.
The truth is, the quality of the person you need to conquer the challenges of each day is already inside you. All you have to do is trust yourself and be loyal to yourself.
Believe in yourself. You are more talented than you know—you are braver, more confident than you realize, and capable of grander feats than you can imagine.
"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of a person you are."
- Marilyn Monroe
References
Abagnale, Frank W., & Redding, Stan. (2002). Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real
Fake. First Broadway Books Movie Tie-in edition. Broadway Books. Page 19.
Priankaa, Sai. (n.d.). Can Having an Alter Ego Help Reveal Your True Self. Soulveda. Retrieved
Have you seen the 1st - 4th Article? If not yet, you can always read them here:
Article 1: Converting Your Plans into Meaningful Actions
Article 2: Life: Meaning We Can Create
Article 3: Don’t Wait Before It’s Too Late
Article 4: Beyond Tangible Possessions: The Value of Personality Over Materialism
Make the most out of your time here! Below are the links to the following articles of Life Exploration for you to indulge in. Feel free to explore them also.
Enjoy your reading!
Article 5: The Person Underneath The Mask
Article 6: The Goodness Inside of Us
Article 7: Focus on Your Own Footsteps
Article 8: Practical Ways to Achieve Success
Article 9: Build Your Confidence: Increase Your Self-Esteem and Stop Self-Hatred
Article 10: Face Your Fears: You’re In Control
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