The Stranger

I don't recall when I first heard of the idea of creating a persona to help me do things that I wouldn't or couldn't normally do. But the idea was very appealing to me because it seemed to be a matter of will and for a long I was very interested in self mastery. I'm sure the years of exposure superheroes with their mild-mannered alter egos also added credence to the idea. I have gone so far as to go by variations of my name for different personas.

Being a thin, shy, and tender hearted child I was easy prey for those that sought someone to tease. What's that expression about sticks and stones? Ultimately each persona served two purposes. Whatever I felt was necessary was accomplished. There could be a version of me that could talk to people at school or social function. A version who could be funny and spontaneous or someone who entertain or teach group of people. Even a version that could take the abuse of others. (I'm realizing this is beginning to sound like the plot for Multiplicity). The second, and possibly the most important purpose was that I (my true self) would be protected because it wasn't me that was being mocked or ridiculed it was just a persona.

I should have learned from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or even The Mask (who knew that movie had layers). I didn't realize was how difficult and exhorting it would be to maintain these different these personas. Some personas have lost their usefulness. While others I find myself spending more and more time with. The more time I spent as a different persona the stronger they become.

Where is the balance of personality growth and dissociation? Billy Joel's Stranger makes a good point about the stranger is ourselves. Has creating personas caused me to I become a series of personality caricatures that share the same face?