Life is overwhelming. We make quick decisions, say things without thinking, and rush through the day without leaving time to think about ourselves. Sometimes we don’t even know how we feel -or who we are. 

Cognitive dissonance occurs when you feel discomfort for behaviours that don’t align with your values. Signs of cognitive dissonance can be anywhere from regretting decisions to feeling the need to conform to social pressure. It’s a universal experience and when built up, can often lead to confusion and emotional fatigue.

Exploring personal identity is essential to understanding ourselves. By reflecting on our actions and emotions we are able to re-align ourselves with our goals and ideals. This process allows us to discover new aspects of ourselves, and can either reaffirm or change beliefs. Ultimately, it helps ground you within the life you want to live.

A large aspect of this project is exploring the disconnect between others’ opinions and perceptions of your identity that don’t align with how you view yourself. These impressions can often influence how you behave. For instance if your friends believe you to be ‘the funny one’ you’re probably more likely to make jokes around those people -but If they perceive you as a shy or quiet person you’re probably going to match that energy.

Are you interested in how different your friends perceive your character than how you perceive it yourself? To test this difference in perception simply just take a personality test, save your results, and then give the same test to a friend to fill out based on how they see you. Comparing the results can lead to large discrepancies between your perceptions. Click below to take the test and find out for yourself.

→ Take The Test

While watching MONOTONE I invite you to think about how others perceive you, and if those impressions influence your personality. While watching, think of the question: How can I be more authentic?