How to Discover Your Alter Ego: 11 Questions to Ask Yourself
An alter ego has changed my life: it helps me make decisions and live in abundance. Here’s how to create yours.
In my latest podcast, I tell you all about my alter ego Keller. Take a listen, if you’d like an example of how to structure writing about your own alter ego. This blog looks at exactly how I created my alter ego, and shares the eleven important questions to ask.
I know that people I’ve talked to about this have asked me how I came up with a name for my alter ego. That is entirely up to you — frankly, you’re probably overthinking it, if you don’t simply pick a name out of the hat. That said, I’ll tell you my more elaborate way of finding the name.
I decided to ask my subconscious to help find a name for me and asked the question before I went to sleep one night. I don’t often remember my dreams, but that night I dreamed of the name Keller.
My first response was laughter, as Keller means “cellar” in German. How well my wine connoisseur mind was playing out…
I decided to Google the name to see if it was anything other than simply a surname/word in German. I found it in Gaelic and laughed out loud at the meaning. My subconscious was obviously having a little giggle at my expense.
In Gaelic, Keller means “little champion.”
The universe and my subconscious want me to see the power in what I’m taking on to change my identity.
Now, let’s think about the questions you might ask to build up your own alter ego. These are simple — they might feel like the equivalent of doing a ‘what’s your perfect day?’ type exercise. There is, however, one important caveat — you don’t need to think about how the traits in your alter ego will come about. You don’t need to panic about how you’re going to get the career your alter ego has, or how you’ll afford the ideal house, and so on.
Write the identity of who you know would have the things you want, and who you want to become. These questions will help you to do that:
What’s their daily routine?
How do they feel about relationships (partner, friends, family, colleagues, etc.)?
What do they prioritise in life?
Is their community a big part of their life?
What’s their attitude towards money?
Do they engage in personal development?
What do they have?
How do they spend their leisure time?
Do they take regular self-care?
How do they feel about their mind, body, and spirit?
Where do they live, and what’s their home environment like?
Answering these questions should help you to write out a full account of who your alter ego is.
The real proof is in how you use the alter ego on a daily basis: that is where it starts to change your identity. The best way to start ‘implanting’ the new identity into your subconscious is through hypnosis or a similar relaxed state. For the time being, however, there are still ways of using your alter ego.
1) During times of decision making;
2) When you feel lost or confused;
3) If your emotions are on overdrive.
In all of these moments — and more besides — I ask myself, “What would Keller do?” I don’t always get a direct flash of knowledge, but I do usually feel more in control than previously.
Developing my alter ego has had a huge impact on me, and I have faith that it will offer similar hope and progress for you. Be playful, find the identity you need, and have fun with it!
Originally published at https://wildeaboutwellbeing.com on October 24, 2020.
