We all have that shadowy figure lurking in the recesses of our minds, often referred to as the alter ego. For some of us, it’s a full-blown, caped crusader with a catchy name and a flair for the dramatic. For others, it’s a slightly more polished version of ourselves, the one that doesn’t spill coffee on their shirt five minutes before a big meeting. But honestly, most of us are more likely to talk to our houseplants than to fully embrace this other self.
There are those fortunate — or perhaps delusional — individuals who feel completely satisfied with their ego, seeing no need to project their insecurities onto an external persona. They saunter through life with quiet confidence, blissfully unaware that their inner superhero might be just a figment away. Well, maybe they’ve just never been caught arguing with their reflection about who has the better hair day. Who’s to say?
Then there’s the rest of us, who after a particularly rough day, find ourselves creating our own alter egos out of sheer necessity. After all, who better to handle our insecurities and lack of confidence than an imaginary entity who has their act together? I mean, if my alter ego can’t be bothered to second-guess every decision, why should I? That’s what they’re there for, right?
Now, most of the time, these alter egos live in the background, whispering snarky comebacks we’re too polite to say out loud or offering a boost of confidence when we’re pretending that we know what we’re doing. But sometimes, they slip out, and we don’t even notice. It’s like young children with their imaginary friends; sure, we say it’s about companionship, but really, it’s about ego. You have a pint-sized crisis in self-worth and, presto, suddenly there’s a magical friend who thinks you’re the bee’s knees.
But alter egos are tricky little buggers. They’re like that mirror reflection you stare at a bit too long. At first glance, it’s just you that’s staring back — bedhead, blemishes, and all. But look closer, and maybe there’s something else there, something lurking just beneath the surface. You may see a glimmer of what you could be if you didn’t hit the snooze button three times this morning.
So, do we see a simple, superficial reflection of ourselves in the mirror? Or is there more that we’re not seeing? Perhaps, deep down, we know that our alter ego is lurking just out of sight, ready to step in when the going gets tough.
~ Amelia Desertsong
