One of the keys to living a life on track, is an ability to step outside ourselves and observe our life. This has been referred to as "The Observing Self." When we develop an observing self, we are less likely to be reactive to external events or take them personally. Becoming consciously aware of the different aspects of ourselves, helps us to understand the functioning of others and ourselves, so that we can make intentional choices in deciding how we want to live.
Three aspects of self are commonly considered. One is our awareness of our basic bodily needs and functioning. Our body has fundamental basic biological needs that are primal in that they are needed for survival. They are basic needs such as the need for food, sex, sleep, warmth, and shelter. This can be seen as our instinctual self. Webster's dictionary defines an instinct as "a natural impulse or innate propensity that incites animals, (including man) to actions that are essential to their existence, preservation, and development."
A second is an awareness of our mental conception of self. This is how we are known to the world, such
as "I am Bob or Mary." Webster's dictionary refers to the mind as "the aggregate of all conscious and unconscious processes originating in and associated with the brain, especially those pertaining to cognition, intelligence, and our intellect." Our mental picture of ourself is usually the result of our early experience, or our internalized ideals, and is often referred to as "the Ego."
The third aspect of self is the most comprehensive, and is referred to as "The Observing Self." It also is called the "Witness", or the "True Self", (or I AM). Ken Wilbur, in "A Brief History of Everything" (2000), describes the Witnessing Self as "the Self with a capital S, or the Witness" or pure presence, or pure Awareness, or Consciousness as such." This self witnesses the living divine. Some might call this the Human Spirit. Wilber states that this self is not emergent, but rather is an aspect present from the start as a basic form of awareness, which becomes increasingly obvious as we become more self aware and transcend the functioning of instinct and ego.
These aspects of self build upon each other. As our basic instinctual needs are met, we can address self esteem needs, and then those of expansion and fulfillment. In order to keep our life on track, we need to recognize all three.
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