Text and Artwork:
Copyright © 2009 Beth E Peterson.
All rights reserved.
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We are complex beings. We think, we laugh, we remember, we dream, we eat, and we act.
Psychologists often see us in terms of cognition (thought) and affect (emotion). Sociologists
see us in terms of our interactions with others (actions and reactions -- our expressive selves).
Teachers see us in terms of learning (memory and thought). Doctors and psychiatrists see us in terms of
the working apparatus (physical body). Artists and writers see us in terms of being
creative (imagination).
Is it any wonder we can be confused about who we are? We are so many things, all at once!
Here is a way that you can use to organize your thoughts about who you are...all the various
aspects that make you you. This may be a structure to use as you explore yourself in your
personal hero's journey or in assessing where you have been hit by a manipulator or an ultra-authority.
TOP:
Physical Being:
Yes, it is true! You have a physical presence in the world! Your body (at least currently) is
the residence of the 'who' of who you are. As such, it can affect everything else that is occurring
within you. For example, hormonal fluctuations for a woman can drastically influence mood and change
her whole demeanor within the space of five minutes. Everyone has experienced the effects of fatigue,
where you simply don't have enough energy to act or react like you normally might, or how illness can
lead to irritability. Physical mechanisms gone awry can even lead to such serious conditions as
schizophrenia, which certain impacts the person who has to cope with that experience.
Our bodies are also a main road in our interaction with others. We communicate through our physical presence (body
language). For example, we subconsciously show what we think of someone by how we stand when we
are near them. Are we physically close to them? Do we distance ourselves by turning slightly away?
We deepen relationships through the physical, too. When we share even small touches, we are
bonding with the recipient, or at least trying to.
TOP:
Will and Expression
Our will is what allows us to put ourselves into motion. It is the activator. In this respect, it
is also what allows us to interact with the outer world around us... we have the will to
express our inner self, and through our will we put that expression into action. As we get used to
doing this, from earliest childhood onward, it becomes subliminal, subconscious. We no longer
need to think through each step of everyday interaction. Unfortunately, we often stop thinking about
how we express ourselves almost completely, so much of it becomes habitual.
TOP:
Imagination
Our imagination is a wonderful ability. It allows us to see that which is not right in front of us.
Sometimes it can be a "real" something, sometimes totally divorced from reality. It is the seat of
creativity, and it is imagination that allows us to envision a possible future and to envision our
goals and plans in their fruition.
Imagination allows us to dream, to desire something we can't see or haven't experienced, and to
fill in the blanks in whatever information we may have about a certain thing. This last ability can
really get us in trouble; it is the essence of "assuming", and most of us have heard the adage about
how to assume makes an ass out of u and me.
TOP:
Memory
Memory is what allows us to learn, build habits, and also build relationships. If we didn't remember,
we'd have to figure out how to tie our shoes each and every day. We'd wake up next to our spouse
not knowing who they were. We'd not automatically replace the cap on the milk or put it back into
the refrigerator. We wouldn't even remember that the nasty dog that lives three doors down will
bite if you try and pet it. Our ability to remember is an invaluable aspect of ourselves. Without it, we
wouldn't even remember that we had a self.
TOP:
Thought
When we think of our self, the 'who' of who we are, we often immediately think about the way in which we
think about things...our cognitive understanding, attitudes, the way in which we view the world and
what it means to us. It is our ability to think that let's us organize what we experience into a framework
through which we view the world, others, and ourselves. Our cognitive, thought-based aspect is generally
what we use to process information, makes decisions, and form opinions. How much thought we put into
these things varies, depending on how important we judge each thing to be, and how in control of our
self and our path we wish to be.
TOP:
Emotion
Our emotions are another aspect of ourself which is pretty obvious to us most of the time. We readily
know when we are enraged or when another person is grieving. Our emotions act as guard dogs, letting
us know when another person has encroached upon us. One of the main things we need to figure out
when dealing with our emotions is whether what we are experiencing at a given time is an active emotion,
one generated from our own internal state of being, or one which is reactive, one generated
due to something impinging on us from the outside. The tough thing is, reactions may be delayed, or
even stored until such time as we are stable enough or strong enough to handle them. So... figuring
out where a particular emotional influx originated can take hard work and a lot of internal delving.
Even so, it is almost always necessary for our well-being. An emotion that has not been resolved remains
with us, whether on the surface or buried within our psyche waiting for something to bump it back into our awareness.
As you can see, you really are a complex being, and one who it's well worthwhile for you to get to know.
More on how these aspects of who we are can be found in the book,
Why on Earth Are We on Earth.
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