According to renowned psychologist Carl Jung, the persona is the social face or role an individual presents to the world. The root of the word persona comes from the Greek word "actor's mask." When used in the context of Jung's model of the psyche, the persona is a social mask that conceals the authentic nature of the individual, much like a mask at a Masquerade.
The persona is a necessary aspect of our social lives, allowing us to fit in and play a particular role in society. For example, when we are at work, we have a specific job title that defines our role and responsibilities. We wear the persona of our job title while we are at work, but we are more than just our job title. However, compromising our full self and individuality to wear the mask of our job title preserves social order within the company.
We begin to develop our fully developed persona around eight years old. To better understand the persona, we can look at a young child under the age of five out in public. They wear their emotions on their sleeve, living from moment to moment in full disclosure of their wants and needs. When children are around eight, they begin to intrinsically understand what is acceptable to show to the world, and what is deemed not acceptable is masked behind their public persona.
However, identifying too strongly with our persona can lead us to become a prisoner to it. The persona requires a lot of maintenance and is sensitive to attack. Traits that don't fit with our persona gets regulated to our shadow, which can lead to feelings of shame and guilt.
As an example, when I was working in tech, I wanted to show that I was the best. I repressed my feminine traits in favor of a masculine persona. In my limited view, this meant being fast, dependable, and always available to take on undesirable projects to show my dedication to my work. With time, I grew weary and exhausted. I had to maintain my image at all costs, and so I persisted. I ignored my need for rest, became fatigued, and often got sick. I eventually burned out. I had limited myself to a particular set of characteristics and could not break free from my self-created prison until I reached my breaking point.
It was at this time that I realized I could no longer identify with my persona as my whole being. I had to integrate and merge the opposite traits. Instead of working fast and hard, I had to learn to work at a gentle pace and go with the flow. Instead of always being available, I had to set limits and boundaries to my time and personal space. It was awkward at first because it went against an operating system I had been working with for over a decade. However, it made room for my ability to breathe, see the bigger picture, and acknowledge how short-sighted my mask was.
I also learned that I had to be more flexible with my persona and understand who I was on an authentic level, which I had not even considered before my breaking point. I had to integrate all aspects of myself, even the ones that didn't fit the mask I had created for myself. For example, I had been writing short stories, poems, and business correspondence for my mother since I was eight years old. However, when I broke out into the business world as a fresh college graduate, I got caught up in my job titles. Writing was always a passion of mine, but I neglected to pursue it as a core competency in my professional life. Instead, I shamefully hid my writing abilities and subjugated them to the persona of a marketer. I wrote internal communications, blogs, flyers, marketing materials, and more, but never put my name on them. I was scared to step out as a writer, as it went against my persona of being a marketing professional. I had created a tiny box for myself and was trapped in it.
This process of self-exploration and growth is ongoing and requires constant attention. It's easy to slip back into old patterns and fall into the trap of identifying too strongly with our persona. But by regularly reflecting on our actions and behaviors, we can better recognize when we are being constrained by our mask and make adjustments to live more authentically.
Moreover, understanding our persona can also help us better understand others. When we encounter someone who seems inauthentic or "fake," it's possible that they are simply wearing a particularly rigid or heavily maintained mask. By recognizing this, we can practice empathy and understanding instead of jumping to judgment.
Contemplation:
How would you describe the persona you are currently embodying?
In what ways does this persona mask or repress your true self?
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In conclusion, Carl Jung's concept of the persona provides a useful framework for understanding how we present ourselves to the world and the impact it can have on our lives. By recognizing and working to integrate the various aspects of our personality, we can live more fully and authentically. And by being mindful of our persona and the personas of others, we can deepen our relationships and foster greater understanding and empathy.
Until next time, stay curious, my dear friend.
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