The Art of Personification
We name our cars, talk to the trees, and yell at the computer whenever it crashes. I do it, you do it, but why? These objects we personify do not have ears, and we know this, but giving them human qualities gives us the idea that they are meaningful, as if they are friends or companions.
It’s a mind game, a subtle one that brings us comfort and security. Personification lets us feel like we’re not alone in the world, even when surrounded by things that can’t talk back.
Personification helps us cope with loneliness and isolation by giving us a sense of connection where there might be none. We all know the feeling when the room is too quiet, leaving us alone with the echoes of our thoughts and ideas. Sure, it might sound unbelievable to personify inanimate objects, but anything to give yourself peace of mind is worthwhile.
By projecting emotions or personalities onto objects, we build small moments of interaction that feel familiar and human. Naming a houseplant or cursing at the coffee machine when it malfunctions gives us an outlet for expression, a brief illusion of dialogue.
It’s not about believing the object is alive — it’s about not feeling like we’re the only ones. In a way, personification is a creative survival skill, helping us navigate emotional gaps with a touch of imagination. And sometimes, talking to your favorite mug or treating your old sneakers like an old friend is enough to keep the day from feeling quiet.
In times of stress or grief, this behavior becomes even more pronounced. People talk to photos of loved ones, hug stuffed animals, or thank their car for getting them home safely — as if the object itself could feel appreciation.
It’s irrational, sure, but it’s also deeply human.
These moments of imagined connection give us grounding. They soften the edges of solitude. In a fast-moving world where people often feel unseen or unheard, personification becomes a quiet form of emotional resilience. It doesn’t replace real human interaction, but fills in the cracks when we need it most.
Even as children, we learn this habit early on: giving dolls names, assigning personalities to action figures, creating entire worlds with characters that exist only in our rooms.
As adults, we carry that impulse into our everyday lives, not because we’re childish, but because it works. It helps. It soothes. Strangely, personification teaches us empathy—not just for others, but for ourselves. It allows us to externalize our emotions, give them shape, and, in doing so, understand them a little better.
In a stressful world where bad news seems to be at the forefront of society, bringing tranquility in any way you can should never be looked down upon.
You’re not crazy. You want peace.
Strike Out,
Matthew Wolfe
Boca Raton
Matty Wolfe is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. As a lover of nature and the ocean, you can probably find him sunbathing at the beach or finding a new hiking trail. If you ever do find him inside, he'll be indulging in Lana Del Rey's discography or watching old Survivor seasons. You can reach him by email at mattheww0507@gmail.com or on Instagram @mattyywolfe.
