The Persona Masquerade: BYOB (Bring your own Baggage)
Well, well, well, you made it back. Diving into the dusty dungeons of your psyche to meet your inner shadows wasn’t quite as terrifying as that 7th-grade talent show fiasco, huh?
You brave soul. Kudos! If you made it through that, then you’re ready for the next round—this time, we’re diving into the elusive persona.
We’ve previously explored shadow work, delving into the mind’s dark corners where inner monsters throw their parties. Next up, we’re going deeper into the enigma that is the persona.
Why should you care? Because understanding this aspect of yourself isn’t just enlightening—it’s a form of liberation. My plunge into these depths not only illuminated my true purpose but also amplified life’s synchronicities and handed me the discernment to embrace or discard facets of my persona.
Eager to uncover the masks you wear? Buckle up; the introspection express is departing!
Navigating the Inner Labyrinth
Let’s get one thing straight: we’re not on a monster hunt; we’re aiming for diplomacy. Consider yourself a goodwill ambassador to your inner demons. Armed with your Jungian toolkit—featuring the Persona, Shadow, and Projection—you’re more than ready to navigate your inner complexities. Your Jungian toolkit is not just a metaphor; it’s a set of psychological theories and concepts, that help you understand your motivations, fears, and even hidden talents.
Cautionary note: Not all shadows are created equal, and not all shadows play nice. Some may be as harmless as your cringeworthy love for reality TV, while others might be complex tangles of traumas and fears hidden deeply in your psyche. So, tread carefully. And if your spelunking reveals something that makes you question the essence of your being, it might be time to consult a real therapist. Because let’s face it, some issues require a bit more than an inner chat with your shadows.
Put it this way, if you stumble upon something particularly unnerving, don’t hesitate to consult a qualified therapist.
The Many Masks We Wear: Unmasking the Persona
With that said, let’s dive into the ‘Persona.’ Beyond its K-pop association, the persona has a starring role in our mind’s theatre. Think of the shadow as the dungeon master in the game of life; the persona is the hero – the one that’s earning achievements and leveling up in social skills, workplace efficiency, and Instagram followers.
Take a moment to think about the settings where you act a certain way—work, home, with friends. What characteristics define you in each environment? Are they really you or just a mask you’ve learned to put on? Does the mask serve you or is it something that needs to be thrown out with the bathwater? If you find that your mask is more constraining than liberating, it might be time for some self-reflection and potential change.
So, Why Do We Even Need a Persona? Isn’t Being Yourself Enough?
Oh, you sweet, innocent soul. Sure, in an ideal world, you could be your unfiltered self 24/7. But let’s be real—society has its rules. You can’t just prance down the street in your birthday suit, at least not without attracting some unwanted attention or, worse, legal consequences.
Imagine this: You wake up, skip the toothbrush and comb, and with the crust still fresh in your eyes, waltz into a job interview in your pajamas. With your unfiltered self proudly shining through, you start talking openly about last weekend’s bender.
How well do you think that interview would go? I mean, it might depend on what you’re interviewing for, but you get my point. While being your authentic self is critical, the persona serves a specific purpose that can be beneficial and sometimes necessary to survive.
The Persona: A Survival Tool
Your persona is the mask you wear for the world, whether at family events, work meetings, or crafting that Instagram selfie. It’s a curated projection, shaped by societal norms, expectations, and your own experiences.
There are a lot of psychologists out there who argue that the persona isn’t just about conforming to social norms; it’s also a survival tool. How? You might ask.
Well, think of the persona – or mask – you put on for work. It’s not just for show; it’s also a way to advance your career ensuring financial survival for you and the ones you love. Similarly, the persona you adopt around your friends, while it may be completely different, also serves a valuable purpose; securing your belonging and cementing your social survival.
Phases of the Persona
According to the brains with the most wrinkles, a “healthy” persona is one that’s supposed to grow up with you. Cute, isn’t it? You go from being an insufferable teen rebel to a “responsible” buttoned-up adult who’s all about that 401(k) life. Then comes the infamous mid-life crisis, where some people realize they never really grew out of their Hot Topic phase. Shit, I still shop there from time to time – so, no shade here. Or, how about that Wolf of Wall Street wannabe stage? Yeah, meet the eternal man-child or the forever corporate brown-nosing drone. Definitely not for me.
I have to admit, one thing I never grew out of is my side part. I’m taking that to the grave along with my skinny jeans. But wait, there’s more! Let’s not forget the complex personas we women juggle—because, honey, one size does not fit all.
There’s the ‘Mom Persona,’ armed with snacks and an uncanny ability to find lost LEGOs by stepping on them. Then there’s the ‘Wife Persona,’ who manages to keep the spark alive while also coordinating a packed family calendar. Switching between these roles is like changing channels, except the remote is your brain, and the batteries are always dying. And we all know batteries cost a fortune! Sounds exhausting, right? Well, let me tell ya, it exhausted the hell out of me.
I’ve navigated the labyrinth of the American Dream myself. Started as a teenage rebel who drove my parents insane, morphed into Mrs. Corporate America—which was sooooooo not me—donned my Super Mom cape—honestly, my favorite role—and now that both my kids are nearly grown, what’s next? I find myself soul-searching for more, tired of the same old story on a different day. I gave up on the corporate circus and decided to pick up my pen again, diving back into my true passion from the good ol’ college days: writing.
So, at this stage of my life, the best advice I can give is: keep doing what you love, keep expressing, and keep being you. The world needs more authentic voices of wisdom.
Unmasking True Wisdom
Navigating the labyrinths of our psyche is more than whimsy; it’s an essential quest in discovering our true selves, buried beneath layers of societal expectations and self-imposed limitations.
We’ve realized that, yes, sometimes you need that “work-appropriate” mask to avoid telling your boss to fuck-off. But also, there are masks out there suffocating us like tight jeans after Thanksgiving dinner. Knowing which to wear, and which to toss, is half the battle.
In the grand theatre of life, remember to not get so caught up in your role that you forget who’s behind the mask. Our world’s got enough cookie-cutter voices. What it craves? Raw authenticity dripping with wisdom.
As we moonwalk out of the persona party, brace yourselves for our next expedition: meeting your shadow. Hang tight, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Before dashing off, slide into the comments with your thoughts or a cheeky jig. Want more mind adventures? Hit follow on Medium. Let’s keep this mental fiesta rolling!
© 2023 Evelyn Ann Rose. All rights reserved.
