My husband and I love Marvel! I can’t say we have read the comic books, but it is likely on the horizon. Are we nerds? Likely yes. Do we care? Heck no. The stories are just too good. I recently started watching the “Behind the Mask” documentary on Disney+ and the first 15 minutes rang so true for me. (The rest likely will too but at the time of writing this, that is as far as I am.) They discuss Marvel’s character development and the use of the mask and alter ego. How Marvel not only creates themes of super heroes but also people of struggle and reconciles the two into one character. This may seem obvious but if you really think about it, it may be a light bulb moment for you like it was for me. These amazing, powered, incredibile heroes have real problems and difficulties they fight through outside of stopping the “bad guy”. Just like you and me. They are complex, and we are complex. I truly believe each person does have their own superpower(s) but some don’t know how to use it or show it. When we transform into our alter ego it can give us the permission, the energy, the fuel we need to chase down and conquer what is needed.
Right now you may be thinking, “Now hold up. Lindsay, a few weeks ago you talked about taking off a mask and NOW you start this blog with a superhero reference to say mask up?!?”
You bet I am. I hold true to the fact that you shouldn’t try to be wearing a mask that hides who you truly are or what is really going on. Instead, the purpose of this is meant for you to tap into your different strengths/identities needed for a particular task. Want some examples? Great. I’ll give you a couple.
When running, I usually listen to podcasts because I can use the time to really tune in and engage with the material. But the other day while running on the treadmill, my headphones just wouldn’t stay in. So, I took them out and switched over to music because the podcast without headphones is difficult to hear over the treadmill. (Thankfully no one else was in the apartment gym.) The first songs that came on were “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy followed by “300 Violin Orchestra” by Jorge Quintero followed by “Remember the Name” by Fort Minor (FYI this one is explicit). While I know the playlist seems eclectic, the music transformed me. My mind immediately went to the place where the underdog is training their hearts out in the movies while powerful music plays in the background during the main character’s strength and swiftness increases. I t was like I tapped into this beast inside me. It took over and smashed my run. This happened with about 35 minutes left in my run, and I swear to you I finished with more energy than I started with. I call this “underdog Lindsay”. It is the mode I go into when I need to crush a workout, deliver a kick-butt presentation, or do something someone tells me is impossible. Underdog Lindsay cranks the tunes and says, “Just watch me!”
What I just described above is great, but I can’t call on that type of energy for everything. I show up very differently when a friend has lost a loved one. Unfortunately this has happened too frequently in the last month. I’m still the same Lindsay, but “Underdog Lindsay” would not allow the space for grief, processing, and compassion, as “Listening Lindsay” (Yeah, I know these names may not be the most creative but they work for me.) You see, for me to be a successful friend in this situation, I think back to my feelings when my life changed in November 2010. What did I need then and how can I give that now? It is certainly NOT by hyping myself up, but rather remember my dad’s laugh, hearing him sing and play guitar, thinking about he was the only dad at every dance class and what it was like to lose that with only memories remaining. This allows me to be open with others, share my two cents then just sit with them in grief and listen to what they are saying with and without words.
You can see the “two” Lindsays I just spoke about above are very different, but they are both still me. In different circumstances, I have different strengths and energies I step into when needed. I can “put on a mask” that is me and fits what is happening right now. It is not me hiding or pretending things are perfect, but rather it is me selecting which complex part of me is best for the situation.
So my question for you: What are your alter egos? When can you or do you tap into them? How will this benefit you moving forward?
Greater Than 