Why Your "True Self" is Holding You Back (The Alter Ego Effect) - E161
4/14/20261 hr 7 min
What if the biggest thing holding you back… is the version of you that you’re trying so hard to be?
In this episode of Makes Sense, Dr. JC Doornick sits down with performance coach Todd Herman to challenge one of the most common ideas in personal growth—the pursuit of your “true self.” Instead of endlessly trying to fix flaws or overcome fear, Todd introduces the Alter Ego Effect, a powerful, research-backed framework used by elite athletes, top performers, and high-level CEOs to step into an identity that performs when it matters most.
This conversation dives into the neuroscience of cognitive priming, self-distancing, and symbolic embodiment—revealing how consciously designed identities can override hesitation, quiet internal interference, and unlock confidence on demand. You’ll discover why authenticity, as it’s commonly understood, can actually keep people stuck, and how creating a performance identity allows you to operate at your highest level without being weighed down by doubt or pressure.
We also explore what this means in today’s rapidly evolving world, where AI is taking over logic-based tasks, and the real human edge lies in intuition, leadership, and emotional control. Whether you’re building a business, navigating uncertainty, or simply trying to close the gap between your potential and your performance, this episode offers a practical and transformative approach to showing up differently—on demand.
If you’ve ever felt like you know what to do but can’t seem to execute when it counts… this shift might be the one that finally makes sense.
Connect With Todd:
Official Website: https://toddherman.me
Book: https://amzn.to/4vqYN7O
Instagram: @todd_herman
Dr. JC Doornick Links:
Web - www.makessensebook.com
YT - / @drjcdoornick
IG - / @drjcdoornick
FB - / @makessensepodcast
Makes Sense Book - https://tinyurl.com/makessensepurchase
MAKES SENSE PODCAST
Welcome to the Makes Sense with Dr. JC Doornick Podcast. This podcast explores topics that expand human consciousness and enhance performance. On the Makes Sense Podcast, we acknowledge that it's who you are that determines how well what you do works, and that perception is subjective and an acquired taste. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at begin to change. Welcome to the uprising of the sleepwalking masses. Welcome to the Makes Sense with Dr. JC Doornick Podcast.
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0:00 - Intro
2:20 - What's it like to be Todd Herman these Days
5:37 - What is the Alter Ego Effect
10:54 - We don’t rise to our goals, we perform to the level of our identity
17:41 - Uniqueness with Dragons and Kobe Bryant
22:41 - How Being Authentic Can Hold You Back?
38:12 - Symbolic Embodiment
40:03 - Enclothed Cognition- Totems and Artifacts
49:00 - What role does the Alter Ego play in the advancement of AI?
54:26 - Top 4 mindset shifts to move into action
59:58 - What is the ultimate goal of the Alter Ego?
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
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