Dichotomous Nature of the Self

I created this image with essentially two basic layers (although there could be additional layers if one wanted to really dig deep.) At the heart of this self-portrait is the idea of duality; basically the dual nature of the self, and the relationship of the self to life. The cloud represents life and the potential situations that life can bring, sometimes dark and painful, and sometimes unexpectedly wonderful. How we live our lives has a lot to do with how we respond to these situational circumstances, but on the other hand, they also mold us into who we eventually become. To truly realize who we are we have to experience both sides of life, painful and dark, and joyous and bright. Pain reveals the essence of who we are, while joy reveals the potential we have, and the inner goodness we have to offer the world.