This morning I was reading Seth Godin’s blog, and I found his topic pertinent in particular to achieving our goals. He talked about the different conversations going on in our heads and gave the voices names:
- The ego–seeks applause and recognition.
- The lizard–seeks safety, wants to fit in and not be rejected or criticized.
- The artist–wants to be generous, creative and make positive change with impact.
- The boxer–wants to poke and be poked, seeks revenge and ultimately victory.
- The zombie–wants to turn off and be entertained.
- The philanthropist–wants to help, anonymously.
- The evangelist–wants to spread an idea.
- And the hunter–wants to successfully track and bring down a target.
Long ago I studied Voice Dialogue. Also called the Psychology of Selves, this work teaches us that we do, indeed, have different “selves” or “voices” that influence us every day. By learning who they are we can work with them and put them to good use in our lives–rather than letting them control our lives.
Are you familiar with your Inner Child, for instance? Well, maybe you also have an Inner CEO, or Inner Author or Inner Publicist, or Inner Internet Genius. Maybe you harbor a part of you that is always prompt or always good at investing or always good at staying on track to achieve goals. Maybe youย have an Inner Spiritual Connector.
It’s time to get familiar with your inner “team” and get all of them working together. Sit down and get quiet. Ask them one by one to introduce themselves to you. Ask them if they are willing to work with you. Then, later, when you need one of them, close your eyes again and call on that “self,” ask for that energy to be present and to assist you in achieving your goal. In this way you can harness your human potential…all of it (or them). You can put all your selves or different selves to work to help you be the best you can be in each situation.
