Pseudo Self V — Understanding the Persona

In the last post, we talked about Persona, Anima/Animus, Shadow and the Original Self — the Whole.

Today we will talk about Persona only.

What we call personality is actually our mask. Carl Jung introduced this term first. Every person wears a mask. But wearing a mask does not mean being bad or good. The mask can be good, bad, or both. People wear it as per the need. Sometimes a strong man wears a mask of weakness, and sometimes a weak man wears a mask of strength.

Pseudo Self is actually this mask. It does not have its own existence. It is just layered. When you remove it layer by layer, there is nothing that exists — except the Anima itself. Anima is more rooted to existence, but let’s not talk about it today. Today we will talk about Persona only. And believe me, once you understand it properly, you will know who you actually are and who is not you.

But do we wear masks deliberately?

No. We wear it unknowingly.

Then, does it mean we are living our lives like zombies? Yes. Most of us are living like this because we kill the Anima inside us just for social validation — the desire to look strong, successful and prosperous.

But what is left ultimately?

Nothing. We kill the very source which can lead us towards our roots, towards Cosmic Consciousness. And then there is nothing left except the body, except the mask.

So, what to do?

Be emotional. Be rooted.

But being emotional does not mean being sentimental. Being emotional means being full of life, being full in the present. Then life becomes a song, a play, a poem.

Then you are aware of everything, but it is you who chooses when to respond and when not to respond.

When you understand Persona, you stop defending the mask. You wear it when needed, and you put it down when not needed.