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Human beings are multidimensional creatures. Our identity is made up of the
sum total of our many traits and values and our character. Each of us
possesses within us many different selves. There is the adult part of
ourselves and the childlike spirit that resides in each one of us. There is
our masculine side and our feminine side. In us there is the hard worker, the
artist, the parent, and the caretaker. All of these selves combined form a
well-rounded, complex person. Not all of these different aspects of who we
are blend easily with each other, however, and some of them may even conflict
with or oppose one another. When a person's different parts clash, such as
the self that is our childlike aspect and the self that is our responsible
adult, we often end up compartmentalizing or suppressing one of these aspects
to ease the conflict. While this may make us feel better in the short run, we
would be better off finding a way for these two selves to coexist peacefully
inside us.
Though some of our selves may be dominant while others rarely assert
themselves, attempts to suppress one or more of these different aspects can
leave us feeling that our identity has been splintered. Being able to
successfully integrate our various selves can be as simple as accepting and
embracing each one. It may also be necessary to reframe the way you see them.
The immature self that you ridicule can become a valued and accepted part of
you when redefined as your more playful aspect. Journaling can help you
acknowledge and understand the different parts that make up your identity.
When your many selves blend together to form an integrated individual, you
will feel changed. You will no longer feel pulled in multiple directions, and
you will never again have to deny any part of yourself. You become a complete
person -- familiar and comfortable with the many selves that make up the
person you are.
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