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The concept of the Inner Child, popularized by John
Bradshaw, is familiar to many of us.
If one can have an Inner
Child, perhaps other inner personas are also possible, such as the Inner
Adult, Healer, Bully, Guide, Critic, Judge, Victim, Pleaser, Saboteur, Protector/Controller,
The Nurturing one, The Competent one. Some may be Archetypal in
nature, such as the Inner Mother, or God/dess. The above do not contain
all the
personas one may discover as there can be many in ones Inner Family, and some will be unique to
you and you alone.
Similarly, as it is
possible to have a persona that is younger (or older) than one's chronological age, it is
also possible to have a persona of a different gender.
Acknowledging, listening
to, and working with personas can help you discover what each one needs and what each one
has to offer. This treasure trove of information can lead to a greater understanding
and to both fuller acceptance and fuller expression of oneself.
A persona is different from a role. A role is
something you try on, like a dress. However, if wearing that dress then brings out
something deep inside you, some energy that is familiar, that is very real for you, you
may have discovered a persona.
Hypnosis is only one way of the many ways to access a
persona. Some of the other ways are: paying attention to dreams, writing in a journal, trying
on different costumes and noticing how you respond, and paying close attention to your
thoughts, emotions, and actions when you're joyous, angry, sexual, ill, or in any other
intense emotional, psychological, and/or physical state.
The phrases "act your age" and "I'm of two
minds" may help illustrate my point. Who are you when you're not "acting
your age?" Maybe your inner child has a need and is trying to get some
attention, either from someone else, or from you! And when you're "of two
minds," it might help to ask what does each "mind" want, and negotiate
a compromise as if you indeed were two separate people.
I'm not saying that having personas is the same as having
"multiple personalities." Usually a person who has multiple personalities
is not initially aware of them, and the personalities may not be aware of each other.
Sometimes there are gaps in time, amnesia, and behaviors that are seemingly
inconsistent. Having multiple personalities is a form of dissociation, whereas
having personas is a form of association. Once you have identified a persona, you
can work together to form an alliance that can strengthen your entire sense of self.
The concept of personas can be found in many forms.
Voice Dialogue, a technique created by Drs. Hal and Sidra Stone, is one. They call
personas "subpersonalities," and their book Embracing Our Selves: The Voice
Dialogue Manual, Nataraj Publishing, is an excellent place to start if you wish to
expand your knowledge of personas and your inner family.
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