IFS Exercise
The Essene Gospel of Peace &
Love’s Breath Session
Tuesday – Friday@ 6:30 PM ET
Zoom Link :
https://MiamiNetwork.org/zoom
Open to everyone.
‘ Richard Schwartz, PhD ’ ❤️🙏🌍 Self :: compassion, curiosity, clarity, creativity, calm, confidence, courage, and connectedness.
..::“It’s not psychological safety if people can only voice what you want to hear. The goal is not to be comfortable. It’s to create a climate where people can speak up without fear. Psychological safety begins with admitting our own mistakes and welcoming criticism from others.”
~Adam Grant
psychologist, #1 NYT bestselling author
_____________________________
related: https://hbr.org/2023/02/what-is-psychological-safety
Transformation
When ‘The Self’ becomes the leading intelligence in our lives, we create more harmony—both within ourselves and in our external lives.
Understanding the neuroscience of transformational change, as outlined by Bruce Ecker's "coherence" approach, can help us to make our unconscious beliefs into conscious awareness, and then to pair these beliefs with fresh new experiences that disconfirm or challenge (and hopefully update!) our view of reality.
There are two types of change: incremental change, which is often slow and takes more effort to maintain, and transformational change, which can happen in a moment and is effortless to maintain. Given the benefits of the latter, this video outlines how to facilitate transformational change in our own personal growth work. While transformational change happens in a single moment, that isn't to say it is always easy. We have to be a bit strategic. Why? Because for transformational change to occur, the brain must be gently presented with two very specific sources of information simultaneously. First, what did we learn about reality in the past. (This is called reactivation.) In order to reactivate the schema stored in implicit memory we need to emotionally experience the memories from the past. This emotion is required to become aware of our brain's deepest beliefs about how the world works (our schemas) and to open these neural nets up for rewiring. This is not an easy task since what our brain most fervently believes is often completely unconscious to us. That's why it can be helpful to have an experienced and trusted partner to help facilitate this reactivation process. The second step is to notice examples from our current experience that don't align with the old map of reality that we developed in childhood. This process is called disconfirmation. When a deeply felt schema from our past is juxtaposed along side an updated and disconfirming experience from our present then the brain chooses to rewrite the schema in order to resolve any contradictions. Through updating our outdated beliefs about reality we can alter the behaviors that derive from an old belief system and achieve deep and lasting shift in perception.Internal Family Systems Therapy, Explained. In this video Dr. Tori Olds will share how IFS Therapy understands trauma through the frame of parts work and uses the techniques of unblending from parts to help heal trauma and gain freedom from "emotional flashbacks."
Dr. Tori Olds will also discuss the IFS concept of exile parts and describe the relationship between protectors and exiles.
Dr. Tori Olds will also provide a brief description of the neuroscience of trauma, trauma flashbacks and why traumatic experiences can still feel so present in our bodies, years after the traumatic event. And finally, explain how once we have been able to connect with our "big S self," our "true self" is able to go beyond managing our emotional reactions to actually healing our trauma by caring for our traumatized exile parts.
#toriolds #partswork #ifs #trauma
Part 5: 
• Internal Family Systems: Explained
How IFS therapy helps us to reconnect and care for our wounded inner child. Dr Tori Olds describes how “parts” work helps us to bring about a long-awaited reunion between this inner child and a wiser, more compassionate adult self or “true Self.”
Through gently asking our defenses (protector parts) to step aside, we are able to provide true guidance and care to the young parts of our self that are scared, angry or ashamed but have been exiled from our conscious awareness. When this hurt inner child that we had previously hidden away, senses the presence of our caring adult self, they are finally able to feel safe enough to be seen.
The protector “parts”, also developed in childhood, sensing a wiser, stronger, more capable presence, are able to let go of their defensive strategies for protecting the wounded inner child.
IFS: Internal Family Systems:
The Self is characterized by qualities like the 8 C’s in IFS: compassion, curiosity, clarity, creativity, calm, confidence, courage, and connectedness.
Then, from that state, we can explore and transform our relationships with the parts that were blocking our goals and life vision.
Finally, we are more able to lead personal and work lives from the state of Self-leadership which creates harmony and authenticity in all relationships.
Founder of Internal Family Systems, Richard Schwartz provides a demonstration.
The Four Basic Goals of IFS
1. Liberate parts from the roles they’ve been forced into, so they can be who they’re designed to be.
2. Restore trust in the Self and Self-leadership.
3. Reharmonize the inner system.
4. Become more Self-led in your interactions with the world.
~Schwartz, Richard, Ph.D.. No Bad Parts (p. 33).
IFS :: Basic Terms
Self: In IFS, the Self is the core or spiritual center of a person, characterized by qualities like compassion, calmness, curiosity, and clarity. “Self” is the essence of who we are beyond our parts.
Parts: Everyone has different ‘parts’ or sub-personalities, which encompass a range of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. These parts are often developed to protect and manage psychological pain.
Exiles: Are vulnerable, wounded parts, often carrying burdens from traumatic experiences or pain. They are usually hidden away or repressed by other “parts” that are attempting to protect us from experiencing suppressed emotions.
Managers: These parts work to keep the exiles suppressed and maintain a functional level of consciousness and behavior. They are responsible for managing daily life and protecting us from harm.
Firefighters: When an exile’s pain becomes overwhelming, firefighters emerge to distract or soothe us, often through impulsive behaviors like addiction or aggression which can have destructive consequences.
Burden: A burden is a mistaken belief, emotion, body sensation or role that a part carries, which usually originates from past traumatic experience. It can influence how parts operate within the system.
Unblending: This involves supporting parts to separate gently from the Self. It helps us experience that we are not only our parts, but rather have parts, and this allows us to make decisions with more perspective and from a place of greater calm.
Integration: The hope in time is for the greater integration of all parts into the Self, so they can relate harmoniously. This Involves acknowledging, understanding, and healing our exiled parts and their protectors.
The IFS model emphasizes that all parts have positive intentions and that healing comes from understanding and harmonizing these internal families or systems.
8 C’s in IFS: compassion, curiosity, clarity, creativity, calmness, confidence, courage, and connectedness.
The “5 Ps” of IFS (Internal Family Systems) are Presence, Perspective, Patience, Persistence, and Playfulness.
These are qualities of the Self that help in approaching inner work with a lighter, steadier attitude, fostering emotional growth and transformation. They represent the traits that help individuals approach their inner system in a way that builds trust and allows for healing.
Presence: Being with what is, and accepting the present moment without an urgent need to fix things.
Perspective: The ability to see the bigger picture of a situation or internal conflict.
Patience: Understanding that progress takes time and approaching the process without adding pressure or expectations.
Persistence: The ability to keep going even when it is challenging.
Playfulness: Introducing lightness, humor, and spontaneity to make the therapeutic space feel safer for parts to be spontaneous.
IFS Outline:
https://ifs-institute.com/resources/articles/internal-family-systems-model-outline
How does IFS address conflicts between parts?
In Internal Family Systems (IFS), conflicts between parts, also known as polarizations, are addressed by fostering internal dialogue led by the core Self.
The process involves unblending from the conflicting parts, approaching each with curiosity and compassion, understanding their positive intentions, and ultimately healing the underlying wounds held by exiled parts.
The five-step process
Identify the polarized parts: The first step is to recognize the inner conflict and notice the specific parts involved in the opposition.
A person might feel torn between a “perfectionist” part that fears failure and a “rebel” part that avoids pressure by procrastinating.
Instead of trying to “pick a side,” the goal is to see both sides of the conflict.
Unblend from the parts: When parts are in conflict, they are often “blended” with the person’s consciousness, causing them to feel completely taken over by one of the parts.
For example, a person may say, “I am a procrastinator,” instead of, “A part of me wants to procrastinate.”
Gently unblend from these parts, allowing them to observe the inner conflict from the calm and grounded perspective of the Self.
Listen to each part with curiosity: Once the Self is leading, the individual can approach each polarized part with empathy and curiosity to understand its true intentions.
For instance, a person might ask the perfectionist part, “What are you afraid will happen if we don’t push hard?” and ask the rebel part, “What do you fear if we don’t push back?” Both parts can reveal a shared, deeper goal, such as preventing feelings of shame or inadequacy.
Find common ground and negotiate: With the Self mediating the internal dialogue, the parts can begin to see that they are both working toward the same shared goal of well-being, even with their different methods.
The Self can help them negotiate and collaborate on a resolution that honors both of their needs.
For instance, they might find a compromise by setting achievable goals while also scheduling regular breaks.
Heal the exiled parts: The polarization between protective manager and firefighter parts often exists to protect a vulnerable, exiled part that holds a past trauma.
For example, the perfectionist and procrastinator may both be protecting a young exiled part that felt humiliated after making a mistake. By creating a safe internal environment, the Self can tend to this exile and help it release its emotional burden.
Once the underlying wound is healed, the polarized protective parts can relax and take on healthier, non-extreme roles in the system.
What are some exercises to help polarized parts find common ground?
Here are several exercises from Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help polarized parts find common ground, ranging from simple visualization to more involved journaling techniques. The key is for your core Self to act as a compassionate mediator, not a judge.
1. Two-handed polarization exercise
This is a straightforward, sensory-based exercise for a conflict between two parts.
Setup:
Sit in a quiet space and place your hands, palms up, on your lap.
Invite one conflicting part to bring its energy into one hand and the other into the opposite hand. You may feel a difference in weight, temperature, or a slight vibration.
Steps:
Acknowledge and unblend: Notice how you feel toward the part in each hand. If you feel anything other than curiosity and compassion, another protective part may be blended with you. Ask any judging parts to relax back so your Self can be present.
Facilitate dialogue: Hold each part in your awareness and address them both. Tell them, “I hear you are in a conflict, and I am here to listen to both of you.”
Explore fears: Ask the part in your dominant hand, “What are you afraid will happen if you don’t do your job?” or “What do you fear if the other part has its way?” Listen for its response.
Repeat for the other part: Repeat the same questions for the part in your other hand. Listen for its perspective and concerns.
Find common ground: Ask them both, “What are you ultimately trying to achieve for me?” This question often reveals a shared positive intent, such as avoiding harm or seeking peace.
Thank them: Close by thanking both parts for sharing their perspectives.
2. Dialogue journaling
This is a powerful technique for creating a structured conversation between two conflicting parts, mediated by your Self.
Setup:
Find a journal and writing utensil.
Dedicate different parts of the page to each voice. For example, write from the Left-side-part on the left, the Right-side-part on the right, and the Self in the middle.
Steps:
Write from the Self: Begin by writing a statement from your Self that invites the parts to speak without judgment. For example, “I, the Self, want to hear from both the part that wants to overwork and the part that wants to give up. I will listen without taking sides.”
Express each part’s view: Allow the “overwork” part to write its piece, expressing its anxieties about failure and its strategy to protect you.
Switch to the other part: Then, let the “give up” part write its piece, detailing its exhaustion, feelings of inadequacy, and its reasons for wanting to stop.
Explore fears and intent: As the mediator, ask questions of each part, and write out their answers. Probe for their deepest fears and what they are protecting.
Synthesize and negotiate: Write a summary from the Self, pointing out the common ground you discovered. Ask both parts to consider a new, collaborative approach.
Write out a possible compromise, like, “I will commit to working on this project in a focused way, but I will also schedule mandatory breaks and celebrate small milestones.”
3. The room technique
This is a visualization exercise for creating safe distance between your Self and the parts in conflict.
Setup:
Find a quiet, calm space.
Close your eyes and visualize a serene internal space, like a quiet room or a peaceful meadow.
Steps:
Invite the parts: Imagine the two parts that are in conflict entering the room and taking seats. They can be visualized in any form that feels right, as figures, colors, or images.
Separate and observe: As the core Self, notice your feelings toward each part. If you feel impatience or anger, ask that impatient or angry part to step back.
Facilitate conversation: With curiosity and compassion, address the two parts. Ask them to look at each other and speak their fears and motivations. You can ask one part to speak first while the other listens respectfully.
Move to common ground: Ask them what they think the other part is trying to do for you. Often, they can recognize the other’s good intention once they feel heard.
Negotiate a new role: Suggest a new, less extreme role for each part, based on their newfound mutual understanding. For example, the overly critical part might become a “helpful reviewer,” and the avoidant part might become a “self-care advocate.”
General tips for all exercises
Be patient: Depolarization takes time and trust. Don’t expect instant agreement.
Always lead with Self: If you find yourself judging or getting frustrated, that’s another part trying to take over. Gently ask that part to step back.
Connect to exiles: The conflict is likely rooted in the pain of a hidden exiled part. Once the protectors trust the Self, you can work to unburden the underlying exile.
Respect resistance: If a part is resistant, don’t force it. Thank it for what it has shared and let it know you are available to listen again another time.
What happens if a Self-like part interferes with Self’s mediation?
When a “Self-like part” interferes with mediation, it essentially hijacks the process, preventing true healing and connection from the core Self.
Unlike the genuine Self, which is present without an agenda, a Self-like part has a hidden motive, typically to manage a situation or control other parts for protection.
How a Self-like part interferes
The presence of a hidden agenda:
While a Self-like part may mimic the outward qualities of calmness and curiosity, its actions are driven by a specific goal. This agenda might be to “fix” the problem, soothe an exiled part too quickly, or avoid discomfort.
The genuine Self, in contrast, is open to wherever the process leads.
A “false” healing connection: A Self-like part might attempt to fast-track healing by skipping steps or rushing an interaction with a vulnerable exiled part.
However, the exile can often sense the inauthenticity and will not truly unburden itself, leading to stalled or superficial progress.
Resistance from other parts: Other parts in the system, especially those involved in the conflict, can sense the Self-like part is not the true leader. They may become more distrustful, uncooperative, or resistant to the mediation process, worsening the polarization.
Feeling drained or unfulfilled: After a session led by a Self-like part, a person may feel drained, frustrated, or like something is missing. There is often a subtle lack of fulfillment, even if the session seemed productive, because the true, healing connection from the Self was absent.
Effortful, rather than effortless, leadership: Being in genuine Self feels effortless and spacious. A Self-like part’s leadership, by contrast, feels like a performance—a tiring, active effort of “trying really hard” to be compassionate or wise.
How to handle a Self-like part
Spot the signs of interference: Pay close attention to your internal experience. Do you feel a subtle sense of “trying” or an underlying agenda?
Are other parts unusually resistant or skeptical? If the process feels forced or performed, a Self-like part may be in the lead.
Turn curiosity toward the Self-like part: Instead of getting frustrated, use your Self-energy to address the interfering part directly. Ask it questions like: “What is your positive intention for trying to lead this negotiation?” or “What are you afraid will happen if you step back and let the real Self lead?”.
Build trust with the Self-like part: Recognize and appreciate the Self-like part for its protective efforts.
Like all protectors, it believes its strategy is necessary to keep you safe. Thank it for its role and reassure it that the genuine Self is now present and can handle things.
Ask it to step back: Once the Self-like part feels understood and appreciated, ask for permission for it to step back. The goal isn’t to get rid of it, but to help it relax from its extreme role so the true Self can emerge and mediate the conflict.
Reconnect with genuine Self-energy: Once the Self-like part unblends, take a moment to re-center and reconnect with your core Self. Notice the shift in feeling—the effortless calm, clarity, and genuine curiosity that signify your Self is now in the lead.
IFS: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Wholeness
Using IFS, 3rd Edition
Understand your psyche in a clear and comprehensive way, and resolve deep-seated emotional issues. Self-Therapy makes the power of a cutting-edge psychotherapy approach accessible to everyone. It is incredibly effective on a wide variety of life issues, such as self-esteem, procrastination, depression, and relationship issues. IFS helps us all to comprehend the complexity of our psyche. Dr. Earley shows how IFS is a complete method for psychological healing that you can use on your own.
Self-Therapy is also helpful for therapists because it presents the IFS model in such detail that it is a manual for the method.
Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) has been spreading rapidly across the world.
No Bad Parts w/ Richard Schwartz
This guided meditation, taken from the “IFS and Trauma” video series (available at www.IFSCA.ca and led by Dick Schwartz invites you to calmly get to know the protective parts of your own system.
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DEMYSTIFYING THE INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS MODEL
Richard Schwartz, Ph.D., shares ways to use Internal Family Systems to better understand yourself, heal your emotional afflictions, and embody your core self. To read more about Dr. Schwartz and peruse the full show notes, go here 👉🏾https://www.richroll.com/podcast/richard-schwartz-761/ ✌🏼🌱 – Rich Roll
Dick Schwartz: IFS and Trauma
8 C’s in IFS:
compassion, curiosity, clarity, creativity, calm, confidence, courage, and connectedness
IFS 6 Fs:
Find, Focus, Flesh it out, Feel, beFriend and Fear
IFS 5 Ps:
Presence. Patience. Perspective. Persistence. Playfulness.
5 F’s of Trauma:
responses are fight, flight, freeze, fawn, fine, and faint.
Six principles of trauma-informed care: safety; trustworthiness and transparency; peer support; collaboration and mutuality; empowerment, voice and choice; and cultural issues.
https://justmind.org/internal-family-systems-model/
Internal Family Systems Model Outline
https://ifs-institute.com/resources/articles/internal-family-systems-model-outline
Exiles and Unburdening
The Art and Neuroscience of Transformational Change: Dr Tori Olds
Bruce Ecker’s mentor was Dr. Robert Shaw, MD, who was very influenced by Werner Erhard. 🙏
I consider this work ontological fundamentally. Blessings
Dr. David Kamnitzer, DC
In metaphysics, ontology is the philosophical study of being, as well as related concepts such as existence, becoming, and reality.
“Release the grip of self-doubt;
you are not the enemy you fear.
Embrace your complexities, your parts—they’re all pieces of the same inherently calm human.
Schema Therapy and Coherence Therapy:
interview with Pierre Cousineau
How Our Schools Thwart Passions
Peter Gray | TEDxAsburyPark
..::”Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of people who are oppressing them.
~Assata Shakur ❤️
“All war is a symptom
of man’s failure
as a thinking animal.”
War is not an inevitable outcome, but a result of man’s proud refusal to use reason, dialogue, and empathy to explore strategies that meet everyone’s needs.
It implies that resorting to fear and violence is a regression from our natural potential for peaceful thought, and that peaceful solutions are the hallmark of a truly evolved, intelligent species.
A failure of reason: The quote proposes that war is a failure of human intellect because it replaces rational problem-solving with physical aggression rooted in a mentality of domination.
A symptom, not a cause: Steinbeck frames war as a symptom of a deeper human failing—the refusal to resolve disputes through more thoughtful means like diplomacy and understanding.
An appeal to higher potential: The quote serves as a challenge to humanity, encouraging the elevation of our thinking beyond fear and conflict toward a more peaceful life on Earth.
War is not a sign of strength: In this view, war is a sign of weakness in the ability to manage fear, resulting in destructive reactions over a selfish, feverish. squeamish, fear of sharing.
“Hurt people hurt people.”
… “That’s how pain patterns get passed on, generation after generation after generation. Break the chain today. Meet anger with sympathy, contempt with compassion, cruelty with kindness. Greet grimaces with smiles. Forgive and forget about finding fault. Love is the weapon of the future.” ~Yehuda Berg
The full quote expands on this idea, suggesting that to break the cycle, one should meet anger with sympathy, contempt with compassion, and cruelty with kindness.
This concept suggests that individuals who have experienced pain or trauma may unconsciously pass on that hurt to others, creating a cycle that can only be broken through a conscious choice to respond with compassion and forgiveness.
The core idea: People who are in pain tend to inflict pain on others, passing on negative patterns across generations.
The solution: The quote proposes a path to break this cycle.
Meet anger with sympathy.
Respond to contempt with compassion.
Counter cruelty with kindness.
Let go of the need to find fault and practice forgiveness.
The outcome: The quote ends with the powerful statement, “Love is the weapon of the future,” suggesting that love and compassion are the tools to stop this cycle.
Yehuda Berg: was born in Israel, is the author of many books on Kabbalah. He led the Kabbalah Centre with his mother, until 2014.
Philip Berg: Yehuda Berg’s father, who was an Israeli rabbi, founded the Kabbalah Centre in Israel and then moved to the United States.
Yehuda Berg grew up in a Jewish environment and received a kabbalistic education by his father and an orthodox rabbinic ordination from a rabbinic seminary in Israel. As an active contributor of the Kabbalah Centre since the 1990s, he has developed his own Kabbalah interpretation focusing on self-improvement and healing, and has coached many Kabbalah Centre students, including some celebrities. In 2004, Yehuda Berg became co-director of the Kabbalah Centre.
However, Yehuda Berg left the Kabbalah Teaching Centre due to a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by a young female student in 2014. Link
..::”Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of people who are oppressing them. ~Assata Shakur
On an individual level,
healing strategies include:
- Developing self-awareness: Practices like mindfulness can help individuals perceive and witness their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, rather than being ruled by them.
- Finding safe spaces: Processing emotional pain requires a safe environment, whether through talking with a trusted person, a support group, or a mental health professional.
- Creating a new narrative: By exploring and sharing one’s trauma story, it becomes less upsetting. This can happen through writing or speaking with trusted individuals.
- Practicing self-regulation: Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and physical activity can help regulate the nervous system and calm the “fight, flight, or freeze” response.
- Active Choice: Individuals can choose to break the cycle by seeking healing, forgiveness, and a living relationship with Self, thereby creating a different path for their own and future generations.
Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) terminology, Matthew 6:24 illustrates the conflict of a person’s “Self” being torn between two competing “Protectors” or “Exiles”: the “God” part and the “Mammon” (MONEY/materialism) part.
A person cannot fully serve both, as each has a different agenda that creates internal conflict, forcing the Self to choose which to prioritize to avoid being overwhelmed by one’s own divided system.
This is because “Mammon/MONEY” operates as an external and potentially idolatrous “Protector” seeking security, while the “God” part represents a deeper spiritual “Witness” that can be neglected when “Mammon/MONEY” rules.
Key concepts in IFS terms
Conflicting parts:
The “God” part and the “Mammon” part are presented as two opposing managers or leaders within a person’s system. One is a part focused on spiritual and eternal things, while the other is a part focused on material wealth and security.
Protector vs. Self:
When a person tries to serve both, it’s because “Mammon/MONEY” is acting as a “Protector” part, attempting to provide a sense of safety and worth. This creates an internal conflict with the “Self,” which is the core of the person’s being that should be in charge.
Divided allegiance:
The scripture highlights that a divided heart is unsustainable. A person cannot maintain equal loyalty to two opposing “masters” because the “Protectors” demand different actions and have conflicting goals. One will be loved while the other is despised, leading to internal “hatred” or resentment.
The choice:
The choice is not between being rich and being poor, but between which part has ultimate authority. Serving God is the way to achieve ultimate security, as it allows the “Self” to be in charge, while serving “Mammon” means the “Protector” takes over and exerts control over the person’s life.
Exile and unburdening:
Choosing “God” over “Mammon” is a path of “unburdening” the “Mammon” part, as the person’s security and worth are not dependent on material possessions. This allows the “Self” to lead and the “Mammon” part to be seen as a tool rather than the master.
If we, the people want Peace:
“So what prevents Peace Now?
Unconscious, unhealed trauma projected onto “others”.
AI REPLY:
The idea that unconscious, unhealed trauma is a key barrier to peace suggests that external conflicts often mirror internal struggles. When individuals and groups carry unresolved emotional pain, they may project that pain onto “others,” creating cycles of misunderstanding, fear, and violence. This concept can be applied to both interpersonal relationships and large-scale international conflicts.
How unconscious, unhealed trauma prevents peace:
- Creates a cycle of aggression: People “at war with themselves” often cause collateral damage to those around them. Unhealed pain can manifest as anger, insecurity, and a need for control, which can be projected onto others who then feel hurt and react defensively. In group settings, this dynamic escalates, turning shame and rage into collective cycles of violence.
- Impairs perception and communication: Unresolved trauma shapes how people see and react to the world, often triggering a “fight, flight, or freeze” response. In a state of hypervigilance, ordinary situations can be perceived as threatening, causing a breakdown in communication and a loss of control.
- Leads to demonization of the “other”: A key part of the projection process involves assigning one’s own unwanted feelings or aspects of trauma to another person or group. This “demonization” turns the other party into an enemy and is a dangerous foundation for further conflict and bloodshed.
- Creates a cycle of aggression: People “at war with themselves” often cause collateral damage to those around them. Unhealed pain can manifest as anger, insecurity, and a need for control, which can be projected onto others who then feel hurt and react defensively. In group settings, this dynamic escalates, turning shame and rage into collective cycles of violence.
- Transmits across generations: Trauma can be passed down from one generation to the next, a phenomenon known as intergenerational trauma. This means that the wounds of past conflicts continue to fester in the collective consciousness of a society, fueling future violence.
- Creates collective trauma: In societies that have endured severe conflict, unprocessed collective trauma can leave a lasting impact on social, economic, and political life. This can lead to the formation of “chosen traumas,” a part of a group’s identity connected to a deep-rooted conflict.
Moving from trauma to peace
Overcoming trauma is a necessary step toward achieving lasting peace, both personally and globally. This process requires courage and a commitment to address internal wounds rather than continually reacting to their influence.
On an individual level, healing strategies include:
- Developing self-awareness: Practices like mindfulness can help individuals perceive and witness their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, rather than being ruled by them.
- Finding safe spaces: Processing emotional pain requires a safe environment, whether through talking with a trusted person, a support group, or a mental health professional.
- Creating a new narrative: By exploring and sharing one’s trauma story, it becomes less upsetting. This can happen through writing or speaking with trusted individuals.
- Practicing self-regulation: Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and physical activity can help regulate the nervous system and calm the “fight, flight, or freeze” response.
- Developing self-awareness: Practices like mindfulness can help individuals perceive and witness their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, rather than being ruled by them.
- Active Choice: Individuals can choose to break the cycle by seeking healing, forgiveness, and a living relationship with Self, thereby creating a different path for their own and future generations.
On a collective level, healing is necessary for sustainable peacebuilding:
Trauma-informed conflict resolution:
- Peacebuilding and mediation efforts that are sensitive and responsive to trauma are more likely to achieve impactful and sustainable outcomes.
- Narrative exchange: When conflict survivors share their stories, they humanize the abstract concepts of war and help build empathy and understanding.
- Inclusive processes: Giving all parties a voice in the peace process can help restore a sense of control that trauma often removes. This is crucial for gaining their buy-in to any resolution.
Focus on the past:
Does healing trauma Focus on the past?
Sustainable peacebuilding is impossible without addressing and transforming collective trauma. This involves dealing with the past to create a different future.
Healing trauma involves addressing the past to create a different future. Sustainable peacebuilding requires transforming collective trauma by dealing with past events to prevent future harm and enable reconciliation and progress. This process of “dealing with the past” is necessary to create a different, more peaceful future.
Acknowledging the past is crucial:
To heal, both individuals and groups must acknowledge past suffering, which can involve revealing the truth about abuses and recognizing the suffering of victims. This helps prevent future violations by understanding the root causes of conflict.
Processing the trauma:
Healing trauma involves processing past pain, but it’s not just about reliving it. Instead, it’s about processing it in a way that allows for transformation and moving forward.
Connecting to the future:
The goal is to integrate the past with the future, which is only possible when the past is processed and acknowledged. This allows a society to move forward toward a just and lasting peace.
Different levels of healing:
Healing can occur on different levels, from individual self-empathy to large-scale public reconciliation efforts like truth commissions and public apologies.
Past trauma impacts the future:
Trauma that is not addressed can be passed down through generations, unconsciously impacting families and societies. Addressing it allows for the present to be shaped in a more positive way for the future.
AI Reply:
Exploring the potential parallels between the Jesus Christ story and the Self in IFS is definitely a thought-provoking endeavor.
Potential Similarities and Connections:
Compassion and Unconditional Positive Regard: Both Jesus and the Self, as understood in IFS, are often characterized by deep compassion and unconditional positive regard. Jesus’s teachings emphasized love and forgiveness, even for those who persecuted him. Similarly, the Self in IFS is believed to possess inherent wisdom, compassion, and acceptance for all parts of the system, even those that exhibit seemingly negative behaviors.
Healing and Integration: Jesus’s ministry often involved healing the sick and offering solace to the suffering. In a similar vein, the Self in IFS aims to heal and integrate the wounded parts of the internal system. By connecting with the Self, individuals can offer compassion and understanding to their parts, allowing them to release burdens and find healthier roles.
Inner Authority and Wisdom: Jesus spoke with authority and wisdom, often challenging societal norms and offering a new perspective. The Self in IFS is also considered to be a source of inner wisdom and guidance. When individuals are Self-led, they can access their innate capacity for clarity, creativity, and effective action.
Sacrifice and Redemption: The concept of sacrifice is central to the Jesus Christ story, particularly his willingness to suffer for the sake of humanity. While IFS doesn’t necessarily emphasize sacrifice in the same way, it does involve a willingness to acknowledge and understand the pain of one’s parts, even if it’s uncomfortable. This act of witnessing and validating can be seen as a form of “redemption” for those parts, allowing them to release their burdens and find healing.
Important Distinctions and Considerations:
There are diverse theological interpretations of the Jesus Christ story. Some interpretations may align more closely with IFS principles than others.
The Nature of the Self: In IFS, the Self is considered an inherent aspect of every individual,
In summary:
There are indeed potential similarities and connections between the Jesus Christ story and the Self in IFS, particularly in terms of compassion, healing, inner wisdom, and the potential for redemption. However, it’s essential to approach this comparison with nuance and awareness of the distinct frameworks within which they operate.
After we stop burning fossil fuels, how long will it take for the environment to return to the pre-industrial normal/stabile Co2 levels?
AI:
Factors, like melting glaciers and ice sheets, could further increase CO2 release and slow down the return to pre-industrial levels.
It is likely that it would take centuries, if not millennia, (Thousand), of years for the atmosphere to return to pre-industrial CO2 levels, even if we stopped burning fossil fuels today.
Q: Why do the wealthy world leaders, want to own and control everything, while they are in denial of climate change, is it just to keep the stock market economy growing?
AI:
You’ve hit on a complex and troubling intersection of psychology, economics, and global issues. Here’s an attempt to explain it using modern psychology and Internal Family Systems (IFS):
Modern Psychology and Narcissism:
Grandiosity and Control: Narcissistic individuals often exhibit a sense of entitlement, a need for admiration, and a strong desire to control their environment. They may believe they are superior and that rules don’t apply to them.
Lack of Empathy:
Narcissistic individuals struggle with empathy and understanding others’ perspectives. They are often focused on their own needs and goals, making it difficult to consider the broader consequences of their actions.
Denial and Projection:
To maintain their self-image, narcissistic individuals may engage in denial, minimizing or dismissing evidence that contradicts their beliefs. They may also project their own negative qualities onto others, blaming them for their own shortcomings.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Denial:
Protective Parts:
IFS suggests that everyone has different “parts” of themselves, each with its own motivations and beliefs. Some parts may be protective, trying to shield us from perceived threats. These protective parts can lead to denial, minimizing or avoiding painful realities.
Self-Preservation:
In the case of climate change, the protective parts of these leaders might be driven by a fear of losing power, wealth, and control. Denying the severity of the issue might feel like a way to protect their position and maintain a sense of security.
Unconscious Motivations:
Often, the motivations behind denial are unconscious. These leaders might not be consciously aware of the psychological mechanisms driving their actions.
The Stock Market and Economic Growth:
Short-Term Gains: The stock market thrives on continuous growth. Focusing on short-term profits can create an incentive to prioritize economic expansion, even at the expense of long-term environmental sustainability.
Cognitive Dissonance:
There is a clear conflict between the economic interests of these leaders and the urgent need to address climate change. Denying the severity of the issue allows them to maintain a less psychologically uncomfortable position.
Why This Matters:
Global Consequences:
The actions of powerful individuals can have a profound impact on the planet. Denial and inaction on climate change have devastating consequences for the environment and future generations.
Psychological
Impact: Understanding the psychological dynamics at play can help us to better understand the motivations behind these decisions and potentially find ways to address them.
Key Points to Remember:
Complexity:
This issue is incredibly complex, involving a mix of psychological, economic, and political factors.
Not All Leaders:
It’s important not to generalize or stereotype. There are many leaders who are committed to addressing climate change, and many individuals who are actively working to create a sustainable future.
Hope and Action:
Despite the challenges, there is still hope for change. By understanding the forces at play, we can better challenge denial, demand action, and work towards a more sustainable world.
It’s essential to continue the dialogue about these complex issues, to challenge harmful narratives, and to advocate for policies that protect our planet for future generations.
quote via Sameer D. ..::” Many years ago, someone I consider a good friend tried to corner me on this issue. Referring to the far-right in Israel I had used the term “Nazi”. He violently disagreed with the use of the term, even though he conceded that these particular people were genocidal – they were calling for the extermination of Palestinians. “The term “Nazi” should be a synonym for “Jew killer”” was what his argument boiled down to (in fact I think that’s a direct quote from that discussion).
–
The problem here is one of history as well as theory. From a historical perspective it’s not clear to me that the killing of as many as 7 million people (mostly, but not exclusively, of the Jewish faith) is more worthy of recognition than the killing of 10 million people in the Congo or the killing of 100 million people in India. The common thread is that all of these atrocities were committed by Europeans – Germans, Belgians and British Europeans to be precise. The Holocaust is one of many terrible atrocities that one could cite by way of analogy when faced with a current example of a militarised population murdering civilians.
–
Out of all of these examples, only the Holocaust has been universally recognised in our culture as an act of unspeakable evil. If I write a science fiction book about a guy who comes to power and starts killing people, I don’t compare my character to King Leopold or Winston Churchill (though those would be perfectly reasonable analogies). If I want to explain to someone in an instant that my character is a very bad person, I compare him to Hitler.
–
If you ask anyone – even someone as thick as Konstantin Kisin seems to be in this interview – what was bad about the Nazis, they’ll have the right answer. The Nazi engaged in the systemic oppression and murder of entire categories of people (Jews, Socialists, Romani, queer people, etc). They not only committed those atrocities, they declared their intent to “rid Europe of its Jews” to paraphrase some of the language of the “Final Solution”. So when we have similar language from Israeli officials – “We will eliminate everything”, “Erase them, their families, mothers and children. These animals can no longer live.” – not to mention the killing of tens of thousands of women and children, is it not time to make the obvious analogy without fear?
–
Ultimately those who argue for the sacrosanct status of the Holocaust are guilty of creating the circumstances by which the Holocaust can be repeated. Is the lesson from the Holocaust a particular lesson or a universal one? Does it only apply to European Jews who were living in Europe in the 1930s and 40s? If so, then there is no lesson of the Holocaust. The exact circumstances of 1930s Europe will never be repeated; therefore there’s nothing to learn from the holocaust if you believe that all of those circumstances must be in place in order to justify an analogy.
–
The only way in which there is anything to learn from the Holocaust is if we take it as a universal principle – no group should be targeted and killed just because they are members of that group. The universality of the Holocaust underlies the entire human rights framework (which was largely written in response to the Holocaust). The group in question doesn’t matter – those who have devoted their lives to human rights often cite atrocities committed against Armenians and people from East Timor as some of the worst atrocities ever. Both of those groups happen to be Christians who were persecuted by Muslims. So the cries of antisemitism make no sense either – those who are fighting against genocide fight against all of them, especially those that their own government is complicit in.
–
..::” If we do not universalise the lessons from the Holocaust, if we accept that there’s something that’s sacrosanct about it, what is that thing that is sacrosanct? It’s not the number of people killed – those numbers have been exceeded in Africa and in Asia. Is it the religion of those who were murdered? Given the long history of antisemitism in Europe that seems unlikely. So what is it that gives the Holocaust this unique status?
–
I don’t have an answer to this question, but I do have a guess. I fear that what makes the Holocaust against European Jews sacrosanct is the fact that they were European. African and Asian genocides don’t have the right sort of victims. Black people dying we can live with, but white people dying? Never Again (repeated over and over, and repeated by the exact same people who are simultaneously justifying the murder of thousands of Palestinian children).
–
The preoccupation with one particular genocide above all others may or may not be due to racism. But it is a preoccupation that does exist. We make (mediocre) movies about escaping the Nazis, we write (and read) novels about the Nazis, and so on. It’s the one example of genocide that firmly ensconced in the public imagination. Those of us who are actually in favour of universal human rights have an obligation to use this example – the only example that the public really gets – as part of our effort to end the current genocide.
–
Bassem Youssef was essentially asked what he would do if he was put in the situation of being in charge of an ongoing genocidal occupation. His answer is absolutely the right one – he would end that occupation and the genocide. But in order to get this point through the thick heads of those who seem intent on insisting that this war is like any other, we should not shy away from historical analogies, including the analogy to World War 2 when appropriate.
***
Sameer Dossani is co-director of Peace Vigil, an organisation dedicated to Peace Education. They are online at: PeaceVigil.net
User:
please explain with modern psychology and IFS, why the super wealthy narcissistic world leaders, want to own and control everything, while they are actually in denial of the danger of climate change, in order to keep the stock market economy growing?
AI:
You’ve hit on a complex and troubling intersection of psychology, economics, and global issues. Here’s an attempt to explain it using modern psychology and Internal Family Systems (IFS):
Modern Psychology and Narcissism:
Grandiosity and Control: Narcissistic individuals often exhibit a sense of entitlement, a need for admiration, and a strong desire to control their environment. They may believe they are superior and that rules don’t apply to them.
Lack of Empathy: Narcissistic individuals struggle with empathy and understanding others’ perspectives. They are often focused on their own needs and goals, making it difficult to consider the broader consequences of their actions.
Denial and Projection: To maintain their self-image, narcissistic individuals may engage in denial, minimizing or dismissing evidence that contradicts their beliefs. They may also project their own negative qualities onto others, blaming them for their own shortcomings.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Denial:
Protective Parts: IFS suggests that everyone has different “parts” of themselves, each with its own motivations and beliefs. Some parts may be protective, trying to shield us from perceived threats. These protective parts can lead to denial, minimizing or avoiding painful realities.
Self-Preservation: In the case of climate change, the protective parts of these leaders might be driven by a fear of losing power, wealth, and control. Denying the severity of the issue might feel like a way to protect their position and maintain a sense of security.
Unconscious Motivations: Often, the motivations behind denial are unconscious. These leaders might not be consciously aware of the psychological mechanisms driving their actions.
The Stock Market and Economic Growth:
Short-Term Gains: The stock market thrives on continuous growth. Focusing on short-term profits can create an incentive to prioritize economic expansion, even at the expense of long-term environmental sustainability.
Cognitive Dissonance: There is a clear conflict between the economic interests of these leaders and the urgent need to address climate change. Denying the severity of the issue allows them to maintain a less psychologically uncomfortable position.
Why This Matters:
Global Consequences: The actions of powerful individuals can have a profound impact on the planet. Denial and inaction on climate change have devastating consequences for the environment and future generations.
Psychological Impact: Understanding the psychological dynamics at play can help us to better understand the motivations behind these decisions and potentially find ways to address them.
Key Points to Remember:
Complexity: This issue is incredibly complex, involving a mix of psychological, economic, and political factors.
Not All Leaders: It’s important not to generalize or stereotype. There are many leaders who are committed to addressing climate change, and many individuals who are actively working to create a sustainable future.
Hope and Action: Despite the challenges, there is still hope for change. By understanding the forces at play, we can better challenge denial, demand action, and work towards a more sustainable world.
It’s essential to continue the dialogue about these complex issues, to challenge harmful narratives, and to advocate for policies that protect our planet for future generations.