An Alter-Ego by Your Side Can Have Supreme Benefits, Research Finds

An alter-ego is your other self, someone who has a different personality than you. It can go from making your own “twin” fictional character to an actual different version of you — someone with diverse thoughts, behaviors, and articulation. Having one can have a positive influence on your life, and some of the most famous celebrities carry their “second self” with them when faced with difficult situations.

Bright Side offers a list of alter-ego benefits that can have a positive impact on you in your everyday life.

1. It can help you look at the bigger picture.

When you think too much and examine your feelings, a lot of negative thoughts may come to your mind. That’s why having an alter-ego by your side can help reduce anxiety and make you look at the bigger picture.

For example, if you are going through a tough breakup, instead of feeling bad for yourself and crying, you might see the argument with your partner more clearly from a third party’s perspective. As a result, you will have a better understanding of where you and your partner stand.

2. It can encourage you to perform better.

Having an alter-ego can make you achieve your goal by talking to yourself in the second person. You may view yourself as a different individual, using phrases like, “You’re going to succeed,” or “You got this.” This can help you to take your work up a notch and be more willing to perform tasks.

3. It may improve your health.

Since creating some self-distance results in better self-control, it might even help you become more goal-oriented. Your alter-ego can assist you in making much healthier food choices and motivate you to work out. Additionally, this distanced self-talk can still encourage you to eat healthier whether you’re on a diet or not.

4. It may allow you to step out of your comfort zone.

If you worry often and are scared of people’s opinions, having an alter-ego can come in to save the day. You might step away from your own feelings and emotions and look at a situation from a newer perspective.

This can allow you to focus less on your bad experiences and more on how that situation makes you aware and insightful. You might become braver, get more opportunities, and let go of things that make you insecure.

5. It can make you more confident in social situations.

Your creative mind and imagination may be a superpower when it comes to social anxiety. Your second self can be a great way to challenge yourself and get rid of negative thoughts, such as how you feel, think, and act in social situations, thus reducing your social stress.

Even the slightest changes in how you refer to yourself can positively affect your thought process and emotions when you are distressed.

6. Your alter-ego can be your best friend.

Your alter-ego can be your trusted, intimate best friend — someone you are closest to and, at the same time, is a part of you. In reality, they would understand you the best because they are you.

You can depend on your alter-ego when you are unsure or nervous about how to act on some occasions, such as at work. You might dwell on your work issues less and rarely get pressured when you reveal your other personality to your boss.

Bonus: celebrities with alter-egos

• Beyoncé gets nervous when she goes up on stage, but her alter-ego, Sasha Fierce, appears and makes her overall performance better by improving her posture and sparking up her tone.
• Adele named her alter-ego after Beyoncé and June Carter; Sasha Carter. Her alter-ego was born when she had a “full-blown panic attack” before going on stage and asked herself what Sasha Fierce would do in her situation.
• Christina Aguilera’s alter-ego is named Xtina, a brunette, tan girl with girly outfits.
• Miley Cyrus’ alter-ego, as we all probably could’ve guessed, is Hannah Montana, who secretly lives her life as a star.
• Justin Bieber’s alter-ego is named Shawty Mane, who can rap. He does it for fun but says it’s nothing serious, as people may not take him seriously if he came out with a rap album.

Do you have an alter ego? Would you consider making one after reading this list?