Externalization might be why you're starting to hear certain voices. These voices and visions can seem real because we believe what we see and hear. But you may think that this comes from somewhere outside yourself.

Externalization happens when we attribute our own internal experiences to something outside ourselves.

For example, you might say, "I'm sure I heard my name being called." Or "I must have seen my friend waving at me." In these cases, we're attributing our own experiences to something outside ourselves, even though it actually happened inside us.

You might notice that some days you seem like one person while on others you seem completely different. Some days you are motivated and energetic; other days, you feel lazy and unmotivated. Sometimes you are content, and sometimes you aren't.

We all have our own individual set of circumstances, experiences, and perspectives. These external factors influence us daily and shape our outer selves. So, how can you tell if you're living out your inner self or externalizing?

Many signs indicate where you stand concerning your inner and outer selves. For example, you can determine where you are by asking, what does my inner self say I am?

We often feel pressure to conform our lives to an image that isn't realistic. Unfortunately, this self-image is based on how we want ourselves to be perceived rather than how we actually are. As a result, many of us spend much of our day trying to make ourselves look better than we actually are for other people's sake.

Inner vs. Outer Self

But there is this different layer to you — the one that exists outside the world's lens.

It's the part of yourself that doesn't care whether anyone likes you or thinks highly of you. It's your true self. And it's always been there waiting for you to discover it.

It can come in the form of a voice that will allow you to find peace within yourself by learning to embrace the parts of yourself that society denies. Your external self is just as important as the inner self, and you must embrace both for lasting happiness.

Your inner self is an essential component of who you are. You cannot exist without it. Yet, most people don't know what it is. Instead, they think that it is just another version inside them.

But your inner being is actually much bigger than just one person. It is the sum of everything that makes up your identity. Your inner self affects how you interact with others. If you are too focused on yourself, you may struggle to connect.

On the contrary, if you focus too much on others, you might miss out on what really matters to you. In either case, you will end up overlooking what's meaningful.

Balancing both worlds

To build a stronger internal self, you need a balance between the outer self (the way you present yourself to the world) and the inner self (your true self).

This balance is necessary because the outer and inner selves constantly compete against each other. You won't be happy spending too much time focusing on the external side. And overthinking too much about yourself can leave you feeling down.

That's where the inner voice comes in. It shows you that you can focus on the positive that your inner self might be speaking to you about.