Strong Sense of Self?

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HabemusFrancis

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What is a strong sense of self?
harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/7-ways-stronger-sense.htm

Is it a strong identity, a strong sense of “Who you are” as a human being?

It seems such a strong sense of self woudl help us when life gets choppy or unpleasent.

A lack of a strong sense of self seems to the key component of Borderline Personality Disorder: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder

Apparently, with the above mentioned disorder, rejection is almost impossible to take, since the suffererer doesn’t really have a “self” to fall back on. Other people seem to have everything, the BPD sufferer has nothing. A person with a lack of self seems to depend upon the affirmation of others for survival.

If you have no self, how can you feel at peace?
 
Perhaps to feel at peace you might have to avail yourself to some of the suggestions in the article such as psychotherapy and medications. It certainly would be a difficult cross to carry and I pray for those suffering from BPD or other issues that preclude them from having a strong sense of self and peace from the need for validation from others.

Interesting post; thanks for the link.

Mary.
 
“The self” can be described as what anchors the soul or life to the solid human body (so forming a living human being).

It is intrinsic to being human, but particularly in recent times, has been given a lot of negative press even in the spiritual sector (self-absorbed, self-centered, selfish, etc.)

We need to embrace our own being before we can fully embrace others.

ICXC NIKA
 
:twocents:

The self exists as an integrated whole in health, participating within physical, psychosocial, spiritual reality. Its manifestations are influenced by its material underpinnings. We are after all a unity of body and soul. Bodily and especially brain anatomy and physiology impact greatly on who we are. Increase dopamine levels and we feel better; increase them further we become psychotic. Ask any crackhead. A little less grey matter in some areas of the brain, our connection to the world is disrupted, and we may hear voices, see, feel and smell things that are not out there. But, its not all physical. Psychologically, we are constructed from our beginnings in the womb. Brought into the room, the baby immediately fills it with ooh’s and ah’s; the sun in the baby’s eyes is reflected in those around, enthralled by its beauty. The seeds of positive self-esteem are built on these foundations. As we get mirrored back who we are, through the ongoing reaction of others, for which we thirst, we navigate the terrible two’s and three’s, developing a sense of our boundaries and what is proper. Most of us have an idea of the damage that may be done in suboptimal conditions and it does not take much imagination to understand what may happen in destructive circumstances. Who we are to become is also to be found in the personification of our ideals - our seemingly all-powerful parents, our teachers, leaders in our communities, the saints, our Lord and His Holy Mother. The latter two will never let you down.
 
As a personality psychologist, the self is the perceiver of experience. In Christianity, there is a distinction between the true self and false self. To me, the true self is nothing more than the perceiver of experience. Psychological concepts of the self, such as self-esteem and self-identity, are to me pertaining to the false self. Psychologists greatly emphasize the importance of concepts like self-esteem and individuality, but in reality, we are all children of God, from whom all the energy of our mind flow. Yes, we have a free will, but for every behavior, whether it’s from thought, speech, or action, we have an experience, and consequence that comes from God.

What you’re asking about a strong sense of self is indicative of the false self, which is a mere illusion.
 
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