self portraits

What is more important in self-portraiture – envisioning who you are (i.e. your “true self”) or envisioning who you wish to be (i.e. your “best self”)? Why?

I think that envisioning who you are is much more desirable in self-portraiture. I think that a self portrait such be a realistic representation of the artist, not what the artist hopes to be. I feel like self portraits such fall into the true-to-life, almost grittily so, category. A self portrait should represent who you are in both your best and worst aspects. Everyone has aspects of themselves they don't like, but you shouldn't hide them in this scenario. By envisioning your "best self," you aren't really envisioning yourself, are you? I feel like envisioning your "best self" is a different thing in its entirety.