The Other I. Trusted Friend. The second self. Also known as Alter Ego.

This week, I’ve listened to The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman. Todd works with athletes, primarily, but shares examples of celebrities, philosophers, and thousands of others utilizing this tool.

The book discusses how universal this concept has been throughout history and illustrates its utility in handling life’s adversity with more resiliency. It protects the fragile self while exploring and expanding our creativity. It assists in ushering movement across the chasm of change.

It got me thinking about how there’s a brilliant delusion in an alter ego—sort of like beginner’s luck.

I remember my first night of playing Euchre. I had to refer to a handwritten note reminding me of the rules. I could barely play. I knew nothing. And yet I cleaned house on everyone. The same went for my first-time paddle boarding. I was a natural pro, it seemed. My second time was a hilarious disaster, revealing my absolute novice status. There’s a video to prove it. 🙂

The common ground between an alter ego and beginner’s luck seems to be the arrangement of consciousness.

Alter egos embody fearlessness, capability, and knowingness. There is no doubt. No disbelief. The energy is potent in its focus on the ultimate outcome.

Beginner’s luck embodies curiosity, eagerness, and openness. There is no doubt. No disbelief. Not enough knowledge exists to fight against the current of pure possibility.

During my time in Corporate America, I continuously took positions I had been recruited for that were just beyond what I knew I could do. I seemed to lock into my potential and commit to the positions from within that state of being. As I reflect, I can see how there was a bit of alter ego and beginner’s luck energy, which made the experiences positive and productive.

When I first started exploring Michigan, I would cringe every time someone wanted to make sure I knew about the hardships of winter there, the challenging driving conditions, and how strenuous hiking in the sand is. Though I didn’t understand why I cringed at the time, I can see now that I didn’t want to enter an experience with too much “knowledge” that would cut off my access to possibility. If I already “knew” it would be hard, then that’s how it would play out. However, being propelled by curiosity and limited knowledge kept open the possibility that it could be a different experience than a tough one.

I don’t want to frame reality before I get to see what it can be if left open by curiosity.

I’m realizing that’s how I tend to be. I can imagine many of you are like this, too, especially if you lean towards exploration and evolution. I would love to hear about times you’ve utilized the principles of an alter ego or beginner’s luck to navigate your chosen change. Please share your story in the comments or email me if you’d like to discuss these ideas privately.