Working With Parts

Working With Parts

“This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.” 

~ Rumi

Have you ever had the experience of saying or doing something that just isn’t ‘like you’?

Developmental psychology holds the understanding that we are not a single, monolithic structure.  Traumatic life events, developmental tasks, and certain other environments all have the effect of splitting or separating the psyche into parts.  In combination with mindfulness to build ego strength and a witness capacity, we can learn to relate to these parts, to negotiate with them and to achieve a more harmonious inner world.