Foundations Part 1: Don’t miss the Self.

Whether you are into leadership development and/or coaching, even personal development. There are foundational concepts that we all just gloss over. Keeping them in mind will help us to have a much greater impact and deliver much high quality of outcomes.

I am doing a short series of Foundational concepts that I found to be missing from discourse in Coaching, Leadership development and other human orientated work.

Part I: Covers the Self (Both me and you)

Part II: Paradigms the operating system of life

Part III: Those pesky basic concepts that we all miss (Wait for the Surprise)

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*Please not all my posts are discussion documents. Feel free to send me your insights and contributions to enhance this work.

When I am working with you, who am I today and who are you. This immediately opens an entire shelf of cans of worms.

The more fundamental question is where am I at in myself and where are you at in yourself. Where do we connect and intersect our experience.

Understanding the multifaceted nature of the self involves delving into a diverse range of psychological and philosophical theories, each offering unique insights into the complex tapestry of human identity and psyche. This exploration can be divided into two main sides: one rooted in broader theories of self-development and identity, including concepts such as the inner child, present self, idealised self, true self, and integrated self; and another grounded in Carl Jung's analytical psychology, focusing on the shadow, ego, persona, animus, and anima.

I hope that you will see that this goes beyond the professional realm, from understanding of oneself to the reciprocal nature of human interaction. The more I get me, the more I will get you!

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Theories of the Self

Inner Child: This aspect represents the original, child-like aspects within us, including our capacity for innocence, wonder, joy, and spontaneity, as well as our past childhood experiences and unmet needs or traumas. The inner child can influence current behaviors and emotional reactions.

Present Self: This is our current, conscious identity—how we see and define ourselves in the present moment. It is influenced by our past (including the inner child) and aspirations for the future, yet it is rooted in our current experiences, behaviors, and perceptions.

Idealised Self: This represents the person we aspire to be, shaped by our dreams, goals, and societal influences. It can motivate us but can also cause distress if there's a significant gap between our idealised self and our perceived current reality.

True Self: A concept often attributed to D.W. Winnicott, representing the most authentic version of ourselves. It's who we genuinely are at our core, beyond societal masks and defences. Discovering and expressing the true self can lead to fulfilment and psychological health.

Integrated Self: This is a synthesis of various aspects of our personality into a cohesive whole. It acknowledges and integrates our desires, experiences, values, and facets of identity, leading to a more harmonious and balanced self-concept.

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Carl Jung's Analytical Psychology

Shadow: The shadow represents the unconscious aspects of our personality that we do not recognize in ourselves but can project onto others. It contains both negative and positive aspects, including primal instincts, repressed ideas, weaknesses, desires, and the potential for growth.

Ego: In Jungian psychology, the ego represents the conscious mind, comprising thoughts, memories, emotions, and perceptions that a person is aware of. The ego is responsible for feelings of identity and continuity.

Persona: This is the mask or appearance one presents to the world, developed as a social facade in response to external demands. It helps an individual navigate social interactions but can detach them from their true self if overidentified with.

Animus and Anima: These archetypes represent the unconscious masculine side of a woman (animus) and the unconscious feminine side of a man (anima). They influence how individuals perceive the opposite sex and contribute to their full personality development when integrated properly.

From a growth perspective, blending these insights can facilitate a comprehensive self-exploration and healing process, leading to greater wholeness, authenticity, and psychological well-being. The process involves reflective practices, dialogue with different aspects of the self, and integrating the shadow and archetypal energies into a more coherent and empowered identity. It can also help us to understand other people in our lives.

The attempt to correlate the two approaches are as follows:

The key differences:

The True Self is mostly a metaphysical concept.

The Idealised Self can be viewed from the Persona (Mask) perspective or an Aspirational perspective (Both has merits and should be kept in mind).

Application of these concepts

Using the conceptual frameworks and objectives of both streams provide a robust foundation of our understanding. While theories of the self primarily focus on conscious aspects of personal development and identity construction, Jung's analytical psychology dives deeper into the unconscious and its influence on the individual's psyche and behavior, advocating for the integration of all parts of the self into a unified whole. Both approaches offer valuable insights for understanding human behavior, facilitating personal growth, and achieving psychological well-being.

Views and Questions:

Am I placating my ego or trying to cover my shame?

Is the other person acting out their inner-child or being their playful True Self?

These are just two “starter” questions. You can now ask your own questions. Next time your are involved with leadership or coaching (or any other interaction), what can be the questions that you can ask?

Where am I at and what part of me am I expressing?

Where are you at and what part of yourself are you expressing?