Persona

The persona is the face a person shows to the outside world, the social mask they wear. The term belongs to Jung and comes from the mask worn by actors in ancient theater. The persona is not in itself bad; it is needed to fit into society and to carry different roles. The trouble begins when a person identifies themselves entirely with this mask and forgets the real self behind it; then the person remains nothing but their role. Coaching often helps the client notice the difference between the persona they carry and their real self, and draw closer to the authentic.