Heinz and Rowena Ansbacher: 5 practical tools to begin self analysis
More than ever we are embracing that many if not most of our most pressing issues have some link-in to our past. The stories we create, attach to, and keep alive. Running, whether consciously or unconsciously, within the psyche that contribute to feelings, actions, and ultimately realities.
Simultaneously we now are understanding and exploring how our minds function in terms of intuitive faculties, perceptions, and imagination and how they play a greater role in our lives and can contribute to a greater sense of authentic healing and ultimately well-being or lead to a self demise guised one being a victim to a narrative that may have been a learning lesson one needed to move through and beyond. A conscious life experience, one in which we are cultivating and creating rather than our experiences running predominantly unconsciously. We all have uttered, the phrases "well if I would have known better" or "I'll do it differently next time", or "if I would have known"...
I belief this is an evolutionary next step in our attempts to cultivate healthy community and broadly more aligned aware civilization. When we commit to our inner work as a means to have a direct experience with the skill of delayering and integrating as we go. Opening our inner aperture to which we can be emotionally and mentally prepared for multiple outcomes with less if not any egoic attachment. When we have attachments to self states run in unconscious programming, we are set up to be blindsided, victims, and unprepared mentality rather than being a fully participant with ability to traverse life's unpredictabilities.
If we can make the incredible journey into ourselves, no matter where we may be at or how our life may appear, we can begin to live another life. One that's better, not perfect, simply better.
“WE have two lives; the second begins when we realize we only have one.” -Confucius
Personally, a practice of self analysis has contributed exponentially to my self awareness, continues to point out my bias and blindspots, and cultivated a level of discernment that has been radically beneficial along my healing journey. It is an embraced never ending relationship that I hold with myself as a witness and direct experiencer.
I’d like to highlight works, individuals, and couples whom have contributed so brilliantly to the world of mental health, psychology, and what it means to be an individuated conscious being on a path. Especially the participatory role we play individually and collectively through our thoughts, emotions, and actions. I believe that if we take responsibility to acknowledge, address, reroute, return, and admit our own untruths and historical wounds, we can cultivate the courage to make the necessary shifts where we as humans can operate from a unification of our psyche, spirit, and physicality.
Couple to Research -HEINZ AND ROWENA ANSBACHER
The Ansbacher couple, Hans and Rowena, were renowned psychologists known for their contributions to self-analysis and its role in personal growth and well-being. Hans, a psychoanalyst trained by Sigmund Freud, focused on the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior. He believed that self-analysis, or examining one's own thoughts and feelings, was a valuable tool for overcoming psychological challenges. Rowena was also a psychoanalyst and worked alongside her husband to develop the concept of self-analysis as a means of personal growth. Both were scholars and editors of Alfred Adler's individual psychology, a humanistic and goal-oriented approach that emphasizes the individual's strivings for success, connectedness with others, and contributions to society as indicators of mental health. The Ansbachers' major work, "The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler," is still considered a definitive text on individual psychology and is still in print. They also wrote "Superiority and Social Interest" and "Cooperation Between the Sexes." Their collaboration is credited with the success of their work,
Ansbacher said his collaboration with his wife Rowena was what really made the work so successful, But it was their collaboration that is credited with the success of their work.
Self Analysis- 5 tips to get started
Here are a few steps that you can follow:
Reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors: Take some time to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and try to identify patterns or themes that emerge. This can help you gain a better understanding of your unconscious mind and how it influences your actions and decisions.
Keep a journal: Consider keeping a journal in which you can write down your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors each day. This can be a helpful tool for examining your inner world and identifying patterns and themes in your thoughts and behaviors.
Seek guidance from a professional: If you feel overwhelmed or unsure about how to begin self-analysis, consider seeking guidance from a mental health professional such as a therapist or psychologist. They can provide support and guidance as you embark on this journey of self-discovery.
Engage in mindfulness practices: Engaging in mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings in the present moment. This can be a powerful tool for self-analysis and inner work.
Explore your dreams: Paying attention to your dreams can be a powerful way to gain insight into your unconscious mind. Consider keeping a dream journal and writing down your dreams as soon as you wake up. You can then reflect on the meanings and symbols that appear in your dreams and what they might reveal about your unconscious mind.
Self-analysis and inner work can be a challenging but rewarding process. By taking the time to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and seeking guidance from a professional if needed, you can gain a deeper understanding of your unconscious mind and make positive changes in your life. Taking an auto-therapuetic approach is deeply beneficial as we continue onward and into deeper layers of ourselves. once we feel we can grapple with some of the core wounds we can begin to be the active participant and teacher of ourselves. The sovereign state with only God above us.
WAIT, THIS IS HARD...
The willingness to be wrong and try again is an important aspect of self-analysis and inner work. In order to truly engage in self-reflection and gain insight into our unconscious mind, we must be open to the possibility that our assumptions, beliefs, and behaviors may not be fully aligned with reality. This requires a willingness to be wrong and to try again in the face of new information or challenges.
Self-analysis can be a difficult process, as it requires us to confront our flaws, limitations, and weaknesses. It can be tempting to avoid self-reflection or to try to justify or defend our actions and beliefs. However, the willingness to be wrong and try again allows us to be open to new perspectives and to make changes that lead to personal growth and well-being.
WE have many opportunities to begin to utilize the world as a "healthy" mirror when confronting these shadows. Some individuals and much more potent leading these "gifts" to fee much more challenging and often we begin by rejecting or refusing to "see" the mirror. Anybody or circumstance even institutions or belief systems hold shadow and once we practice studying our feelings and thoughts, we can once again have the opportunity to further respond with understanding and wisdom rather than react our of unchecked emotions often stemming from unresolved trauma buried deep within the unconscious.
"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate" -Carl Jung
SELF HEALING IMPROVES ALL RELATIONSHIPS
Self-analysis has been shown to have numerous benefits, including improved mental health, better relationships, and increased self-awareness and personal growth. It can also improve relationships with others by helping us understand our own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and how they may impact others. The Ansbachers' work, along with the likes of Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, Robert Moore, and Marion Woodman all continues to be highly relevant today as understanding our psychology is essential for leading a healthy and fulfilling life. Maybe now more than ever recorded in human history.
Self-analysis, self-reflection,
A journey to the core of my being,
Searching for the truth within,
Uncovering the layers of meaning.
Self-love, a seed that grows,
Nurtured by the light within,
A flame that burns bright and true,
Illuminating my path to growth.
I am my own best friend,
My own worst enemy,
In the mirror I see myself,
Warts and all, I embrace my humanity.
Through self-analysis and self-love,
I grow and evolve,
Embracing my imperfections,
Embracing the beauty of my soul.
So I journey on,
With self-analysis and self-love as my guide,
Embracing my flaws,
Embracing my true self, with pride.