How can imagining an “opposite version” of yourself help you overcome limiting beliefs and a limited self-image? Try this provocative exercise to learn more about yourself.
One of the biggest obstacles to self improvement is overcoming your self-image.
Your “self-image” is a mental picture of how you view yourself and how you believe others see you. This includes not only physical characteristics (like height, weight, and body shape), but also mental characteristics (such as your personality, confidence, skills, and attitude).
We often consider this self-image to be an objective truth. We think to ourselves, “Of course I know who I am! How could I not?”
But the actual truth is that our self-image is often a subjective interpretation. We take facts and events that have happened to us, and then we put them through a mental filter that ultimately creates our conception of “me” and “my story.”
At times, we need to try to step outside of our limited “self-image” before we can learn something new about ourselves or grow in an unexpected way.
One great exercise to do this is to imagine the “opposite version” of yourself.
Imagine the “Opposite Version” of Yourself
To start imagining the “opposite version” of yourself, first make a list of traits you associate with yourself and then write down what their opposite would be.
For example…
- Introverted? What would a very extroverted version of you look like?
- Anxious? What would a really calm and relaxed version of you look like?
- Low Self-Esteem? What would a super confident version of you look like?
- Emotional? What would a more rational version of you look like?
- Closed-minded? What would a more open-minded version of you look like?
- Disagreeable? What would a more kinder and friendly version of you look like?
Of course the traits you choose might be different, but you get the idea.
I recommend focusing more on traits that you find unhealthy or want to balance more – as the main aim of this thought experiment is to nudge your mind in a different direction.
Once you begin conceptualizing this “opposite version” of yourself, IMAGINE how they would act differently than you in certain situations.
For example, how would the “super confident” you think and act during a job interview, or first date, or public presentation? What would be different? What would it look like from a third-person perspective? What would it feel like from a first-person perspective?
Close your eyes and take a moment to visualize it in as much detail as possible.
For extra points, stand up and physically role-play as this “opposite version” of yourself. Really get into it and play pretend: talk out-loud to imaginary people, walk around the room, make gestures with your hands. Exaggerate. Have fun with it.
This thought experiment may feel a bit silly and awkward at first, but it’s not meant to be taken too seriously.
Simply see this exercise as a fun and creative way to experiment with your self-image. It’s similar to how a child “plays pretend” with different social roles as they develop their sense of self and identity.
It’s even possible you’ll find some of the new ways you “act out” this new identity resonate with you more than you would expect. Maybe you’ll discover hidden aspects of yourself that are lying dormant?
Keep in mind, the goal isn’t to become this “opposite version” of yourself, but to begin to nudge your mind in new and different directions – and open yourself up to new possibilities for self-growth.
Think about it, if you could achieve just 10% of “super confident” you, how much of a change could that potentially make in your life?
But to move in that direction, you’ll have to at least be able to see it in your mind’s eye. And if you’re not open to the possibility of this new self, then you’re going to have a difficult time turning it into a reality.
Imagining this “opposite version” of yourself can be a great first step in sparking self-change.
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