A while back, I was prompted by my local Dharma teacher Rowan to work on identifying my ego-states (a term which came from his professional background in psychology). I have been investing in this exercise now for a few years and this post is dedicated to what I’ve come up with thus far, though I prefer referring to what he called my ego-states as simply the different parts of my personality. Also, just as a thing worth saying out loud, I’m aware that I’m a work in progress, and this list may not be complete (or may be complete but only for the moment). And another thing. I’m, like, always in flux & changing (ya know, cuz being human). So there’s that, too.
The 9 different parts of my personality (in no particular order)
Child. This part of me revels and delights in small & simple things. She likes to sit on the ground and look closely at bugs & rocks & flowers. She smiles a lot & laughs easily. She has an extensive collection of fun socks and enjoys being playful & silly. She thinks stuffed animals hold mystical powers and she has her own gibberish language when talking to plants & animals. One particularly potent word that describes her is: wholesome.
Student. This part of me has a strong desire to remain active in the process of learning. She is dedicated to a growth-mindset and self-improvement. She is regularly looking for her next opportunity to expand her awareness and deepen her understanding of either: herself, someone else, the world as a whole, or a particular subject of interest. One particularly potent word that describes her is: curious.
Leader. This part of me likes to take charge. She doesn’t mind being “out in front,” though she prefers to lead from behind the scenes or more on the DL. She has a strong sense of personal authority & agency and is not a good “follower-alonger,” unless she whole-heartedly is on board with whatever it is that’s going on. She is highly discerning, swift to make decisions, and diligently abides to a moral compass. One particularly potent word that describes her is: self-motivating.
Caregiver. This part of me likes to ensure that others are well taken care of. She likes to cook and bake for other people. She super likes kids (especially littles) and LOVES babies. She enjoys the role of homemaker and caring for her husband (and stepson, when he was living at home). She places a great deal of importance on doing her best to make sure others feel welcome, comfortable, respected, and in choice. She feels a deep level of value when spending time with elderly people in her role as a hospice volunteer. One particularly potent word that describes her is: kind-hearted.
Make-It-Happen-Captain. Yep, this one has an official name. This part of me, while similar, varies slightly from my Leader role. She revels in list-making and devising action plans, and feels wonderfully accomplished when crossing things off the list. When an idea pops up that she fancies, she – almost immediately – gets to work to make it happen (hence the name). One of her fave things is her paper dayplanner/calendar, as she regards it as a necessity for being able to get anything done (and she loves to get things done!). Two particularly potent words that describe her are: organized & efficient.
Mindful Misfit. Yep, this one also has a name. This part of me does not like being told what to do. (Aside: I imagine most of us have a misfit part of our personality. I mean, who likes being told what to do?! At the very least, we can all likely agree that it matters who is doing the telling and how they’re doing it.) She marches to the beat of her own drum and kinda wants to fit in with others, but not really. She sits on the outskirts of convention and her idea of a kind of death involves doing anything without imploring critical thinking skills. She is a bit of a rogue agent, but not without a sense of connection to her surroundings, or an awareness of her impact. One particularly potent word that describes her is: strong-willed.
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