Idealized Versions of Yourself

[Jennifer]

Nearly all of us who suffer from MD had an Ideal Me. I know I do. But, I was just thinking about this, and I started to think that, what if our Ideal Me's are just the other side of yourself that you're too shy to express in person? (Personality-wise, I mean. Not appearance-wise). I've read a lot of things on this site saying things like, "Oh, my Ideal Me is outgoing, fun, loving, and loud! But, I'm just boring and I cut people out of my life." Friends, what if your Idealized versions of yourselves are you? What if they're just someone you are at heart, but are holding back from the world?

If this applies to you, I suggest you get out there, meet new people, and be your Ideal Me while doing so. Maybe being who you truly are inside isn't so bad after all?

[taffle]

I don't consider my fantasy heroine as an idealized version of Me, because she's a conglomeration of different characters from tv shows, video games, manga, etc. But we do have some similarities, and there are certain aspects of her that I would like to have.

[Paracosm]

I never considered my fantasy self to be an idealized version of myself, because I really do believe she is me. But really, when I think about it, my fantasy self does act in a way that's different from the way I act in real life, but I think that's mostly because I've always been too sad and gloomy to express my true self.

More recently, though, I have wondered if perhaps my fantasy self is an idealized version of myself, and that I'm completely wrong about who I am. I wonder if I'll wake up a few years from now after I've tried so long and hard to be the person I am in my fantasy only to realize that I don't know myself at all. It's a scary thought.

[ClintCoker]

...I heard someone say,"Be your own hero".

[Laila]

I think that changing your core personality would be extremely difficult (like introversion to extroversion), but adopting a new mindset could go a long way. Shyness is something that can definitely be improved upon. I always thought that I had social anxiety, but now I'm doing things to help conquer it. I got my first job, I'm going to graduate school, and I'm planning to volunteer at the crisis center. A year ago, this seemed impossible.

You bring up an interesting point, though. Maybe our ideal selves have always been a part of us, just suppressed. I realized that I act more like my ideal self when I chat to my online friends--outgoing, bubbly, funny, and even popular.  In real life, I think that could pop out when I feel more comfortable with my self image and being around other people. Just gotta work at it! xD