Lately I feel like I've been reading a lot about spies. All those Russian spies in Jersey, how we traded their release for some of our own spies in Russia, people spying for Islamic Militant groups, etc.
While these people have made espionage their livelihoods, we are all part-time professionals at it. Don't we all feel from time to time that we are not being the truest versions of ourselves? The neighbors and coworkers of the spies in New Jersey all said the same thing: they would have never known anything was different about these people. But isn't that the case with all families? Though these people took it to the extreme we are all keeping some sort of secret identity.
The question is: how do we walk the fine line between personality and persona? I used to teach at a theatre summer camp and it was so interesting to witness developing humans in action. I will never forget this one little girl named Georgia, who I witnessed one day yelling at the sidewalk "I said stop! I said don't move!" When I inquired why she was yelling at the sidewalk she said "I told that ant to stop and it didn't! I'm an only child so I'm bossy!" This little girl clearly adopted a persona based on something she heard somewhere else...but I wonder if, now that she is 12 years old if she believes that being bossy is part of her inherent personality. Though most of our development happens in childhood, throughout adulthood we are introduced to new ways we are "supposed" to be, new traits we are meant to adopt. This has a direct impact on how we behave; even those who loudly condemn the conventions are in relationship to them.
And what classified information are we attempting to secure by pretending to be people we are not? Only psychopaths lie for the sake of lying, but most people have very specific reasons for being less than truthful. Are we simply testing how many friends or how much money and acclaim we can get?
What is your secret personality?
What is your public persona?
I know for me they are not always the same, but I'm curious how they can become one. Can they?
But our true selves have so many different facets that we are never entirely the same person from one hour to the next. And you're taking this to a whole different level by being in a profession in which you take on entirely different identities.
ReplyDeleteI'm also happy to tell you that growth and development continues throughout our lives and enriches them. I am amazed by the glow of old age.
Just go with it and enjoy the ride.
I do not think they can become one. It is important, in my opinion, to have some aspects of your life that you keep to yourself, and reveal them to people as you grow closer in developing relationships. Nobody wants everything to be public knowledge.
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I've been thinking some more about this.
ReplyDeleteThere's a difference between being authentic and being public.
Gran, you are a perfect role model of how growth continues forever. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you both. I don't mean so much the difference between private and public information - I myself tend to be pretty private. I'm talking more about things in terms of character: Are the adjectives I would use to describe myself consistent with the adjectives others would use to describe me? Am I truly going after the things I profess to others I want? Things like that.
Forget about the "others". They're just going to be projecting their own stuff onto you. "To thine own self be true". There's the rub. We all have so many conflicting values and wants. I think it just makes us more interesting.
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