How do the world’s top stars muster the poise and determination to stand on stage, despite the nerves and anxiety of having a bad performance?
For both Beyoncé and Adele, the secret has been the creation of an alter ego.
Beyoncé’s was the assertive and empowered ‘Sasha Fierce’, who allowed her to perform with extra self-confidence and sensuality.
Inspired by an emotional meeting with Beyoncé herself, Adele followed suit, telling Rolling Stone magazine in 2011 about her creation of ‘Sasha Carter’.
The persona was a combination of Beyoncé’s Sasha Fierce persona and the (real) country music star June Carter.
Adopting an alter ego is an extreme form of ‘self-distancing’, which involves taking a step back from our immediate feelings to allow us to view a situation more dispassionately.
It allows us to rein in undesirable feelings like anxiety, increases our perseverance on challenging tasks, and boosts our self-control. »
