Living within us are a myriad of Selves, each with their own interests, thoughts, feelings, opinions, and energies. These Selves, referred to as sub-personalities, voices, or aspects of our consciousness, greatly influence our life and the choices we make day-to-day. Our Selves are born at various stages in our life, as early as infancy, to help us interpret and adjust to the demands and desires of our family environment, schools, churches, synagogues, and communities. These Selves have the ultimate goal of protecting us and helping us survive.
From the perspective of the Psychology of Selves, there is no such thing as a good Self or a bad Self, or even a false Self; all Selves are created equal. Voice Dialogue, which is based on the Psychology of Selves and the Aware Ego Process, is a technique for giving voice to each of the Selves. When a Self becomes a dominant part of the overall personality, we refer to it as a Primary Self. Primary Selves are strengthened over time by the constant repression of their equal yet opposite Selves.Living within you is a multitude of Selves, each with their own interests, thoughts, feelings, opinions, and energies. These Selves, referred to as sub-personalities, voices, or aspects of consciousness, greatly influence your life and the choices you make day-to-day.
- Watch “Who’s Driving Your Inner Car,” a video interview with J. Tamar Stone.
- Read a Voice Dialogue article
- Allow Me to Introduce My Selves
Something very powerful happens when we identify the Selves that are running our lives from both sides of the spectrum. It takes great courage and strength to stand between any two Selves and inspire trust in them—trust that you will value both their voices equally.
— J. Tamar Stone