Late Night Thoughts : Masks and your identity
What’s your opinion on a person having different personalities with different people?
I think that's exactly how it should be, though obviously not totally drastic. We all know so much, yet at the same time, we know so little, it's a vibe. You can be anything or anyone at any instant; you’re not your identity, nor are you obligated to be it. You can simply wear a mask, decide, "from now on, I'm this or that," and all you need is conviction.
If you tie yourself rigidly to one identity, you bind yourself to some sense of belonging, and personally, that just doesn't sit right with me. But this doesn’t mean you lose all your values. There must always exist some essence within you that you recognize as "you," the real you.
Carl Jung and Freud discuss this concept through ego, superego, and alter ego. Essentially, they try to tie identity to actions from childhood, suggesting the experiences and environment shape who you become. Unless your conviction is exceptionally strong from the start—which ties back to what I mentioned earlier, your environment inevitably changes and shapes you.
So what exactly is your true self?
It's about what you personally ordain morally to yourself, not necessarily what you feel, because I firmly believe you’re not your thoughts. Thoughts are malleable; they change easily. They don’t define you but shape the essence behind your actions. At the end of the day, it’s your actions that matter most.
Yet, if over a long period you keep having the same thoughts repeatedly, especially problematic ones (like a person who repeatedly thinks about rape or committing acts of violence), eventually, they solidify that into their identity. Freud’s psychoanalysis theory deeply explores this, childhood experiences anchor your identity significantly.
When personalities differ drastically rather than orbiting around a central core, that’s essentially bipolar (lol). But realistically, it's more like an actor playing different roles, you're obligated to play these roles in society. Shakespeare understood this perfectly (go read him), noting that life's just about handling these roles effectively.
Most people fail at handling these roles convincingly, giving off vibes of being unauthentic, a loser, or not in their element, like that girl in your class who pretends to be smart but obviously isn't.
Ultimately, you decide who you are. You decide who you want to be. It’s as simple as that.
I can be a goofy ass mofo, a scintillating fucker, normal, or anything at all. I decide who I am. But beneath all that, my real identity is rooted in the values and morals I hold close to my heart.
That said, it doesn't mean you can't vibe with people without necessarily calling them friends—I have many acquaintances. Close friends, though, must bring value.
Freud also believed obsessively that you’ll always choose a partner similar to your parents, which is why he coined the term "daddy issues," I guess. (lol- lately optimizing life).
So I guess at the end of the day, don a mask which suits you better and play that part well. Now go work hard to be a better actor in that field.
Create more, Consume less. Iterate and optimize for future and failure.