Like many people during the recent lockdowns, I have spent a lot of time listening to podcasts and during this time I have found some real gems. One of my favourites is Matthew Syed’s Sideways.
The introduction to the series says he “explores the ideas that shape our lives with stories of seeing the world differently” and he certainly does that with a mix of science, anecdotes and stories which really do encourage us to take a fresh perspective.
One of my favourite episodes is called “Let’s all be Batman”. In it, he explores the benefits of having an alter ego – a sort of persona or second self that you can step into when the need arises. Having an alter ego who is courageous and confident may make the difference between saying yes to the opportunity of getting up on stage to deliver a presentation and shying away from it.
For anyone who has studied NLP this is not a new idea but knowing that it works for the likes of Beyonce and Robbie Williams is certainly an encouragement! The podcast also gives a great insight into how and why it works. The really good news is it’s not a new skill, we don’t have to learn to do it, it’s something we did naturally as children. Like many things we just need to remember what we have forgotten!
So this begs the question – who might your alter ego be? Is it a superhero, someone you know, an amalgamation of characters, or the best version of you? Why not spend some time really exploring this character, stepping into their shoes and noticing the difference it makes.
I would thoroughly recommend listening to the podcast and then have fun trying it out.
The Podcast is available on the BBC Sounds App here – Matthew Syed – Let’s all be Batman
