Lesson 2:Developing the Self
Human development is a complex process. It is the
development of physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and all
other aspects. And all these aspects must be given equal
attention to be holistically develop.
Holistic development is where all aspects are in balanced,
work harmoniously and are given equal attention or importance
for improvement. A holistic development is not an overnight
project but instead it must be seen as a lifelong project a person
has to undertake. Wholeness is a transcendental life goal. It is a
long life pursuit. Emeth and Green hut (1991) wrote that we are
on pilgrims on a journey towards wholeness and fullness of life. It
is an ideal human goal given its good implication to the total
functioning of the individual, as well as meaning to
life
Me, Myself and I
Instruction: Provide your best picture. Create your graphic organizer or
draw a circle on a blank sheet of paper and divide the circle into 8 segments.
Put your picture in the centre. In each segment write some descriptions of the
different aspects of yourself as follow.
Note: You can create your own designs as long as it has 8 segment or parts.
1.Physical Self: Describe yourself. Try not to censor any thoughts which come
to your mind. Include descriptions of your height, weight, facial appearance, and
quality of skin, hair and descriptions of body areas such as your neck, chest,
waist, legs.
2. Intellectual/Cognitive / Mental Self: Include here an assessment of how
well you reason and solve problems, your capacity to learn and create, your
general amount of knowledge, your specific areas of knowledge, wisdom you
have acquired, and insights you have.
3. Emotional Self: Write as many words or phrase about typical feelings you have,
feelings you seldom have, feelings you try to avoid, feelings youe specially enjoy,
feelings from your past and present, and feelings which are associated with each
other.
4. Sensual Self: Write how you feel as a sensual person. What sense do you use
most – sight, hearing, speaking, smelling, touching? How do you feel about the
different ways you take in information - through the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and
skin. In what ways do you let information in and out of your body?
5. Interactional/Social Self: Include descriptions of your strengths and
weaknesses in intimate relationships and relationships to friends, family,
classmates and strangers in social settings. Describe the strengths and weaknesses
which your friends and family have noticed. Describe what kind of son or
daughter, brother or sister you are.
6.Nutritional Self: How do you nourish yourself? What foods do you like and
dislike? What do you like and dislike about these?
7.Contextual Self: Descriptors could be in the areas of maintenance of your
living environment: reaction to light, temperature, space, weather, colors,
sound and seasons and your impact on the environment.
8.Spiritual Self or Life Force: Write words or phrases which tell about how
you feel in this area. This could include your feelings about yourself and
organized religion, reactions about your spiritual connections to others,
feelings about your spiritual development and history, and thought about your
metaphysical self. Think about your inner peace and joy. Think about your
spiritual regimen or routine.
EXAMPLE :
How did you find your first activity?
Do you find it difficult assessing yourself?
Did you discover something about yourself that you never
recognized or appreciated before?
Let us now continue with our lesson.
ASPECTS OF THE SELF
The self-concept is represented by several aspects of the
self. It is conceived as collection of multiple, context-
dependent selves. This construct believes that context
activates particular regions of self-knowledge and self-
relevant feedback affects self-evaluations. A deeper look on
the different aspects of self can identify specific areas for
self-regulation, stability and improvement.
THREE BASIC, BUT VERY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF
THE SELF.
In a nutshell, an individual is composed of three basic, but
very different aspects of the self. All three aspects of the
self work together in perfect harmony when attention is paid
to all three simultaneously.
1. Physical Or Tangible Aspects- as they relate to the
body (height, weight, facial appearance, and quality of
skin, hair and descriptions of body areas such as your
neck, chest, waist, legs)
➢Many individuals put a strong emphasis on the
physical aspect of the self. The body is tangible,
obvious, and we respond to it easily. More time and
money is spent on enhancing the physical component
than either of the other two aspects. This does not
mean, however, that the body is healthy or strong. The
body provides a place to house the spirit (often
experienced as feelings) and the mind (often
2.Intellectual And Conscious Aspects as they relate to the mind
(include how well you reason and solve problems, your capacity to
learn and create, your general amount of knowledge, your specific
areas of knowledge, wisdom you have acquired, and insights you
have.)
➢ It may be important to some that their mind can be prominent and
well educated. The mind is important, as it is the part of the self
that directs the other two aspects. The mind learns what to do and
communicates the information to the body and the feelings. What
the mind believes, the body manifests or acts on, and the
emotions feel, or respond with. People store both healthy and
destructive thoughts and beliefs and responds to life's
circumstances in the most prominent manner. The mind provides
access creativity and serenity which are necessary for such
processes as prayer, forgiveness, acceptance, and passion.
3.Emotional and Intuitive Aspects/ Spiritual Self or Life
Force as they relate to the spirit and feelings
Emotional relates to typical feelings you have, feelings
you seldom have, feelings you try to avoid, feelings you
especially enjoy, feelings from your past and present, and
feelings which are associated with each other.
This aspects of self affects your state of being, and they are very important
in dealing with people and events.
Intuitive Aspects/ Spiritual Self or Life Force relates to your faith and
relationship with the creator Creativity relates to your feelings about yourself and
organized religion, reactions about your spiritual connections to others, feelings
about your spiritual development and history, and thought about your metaphysical
self. Think about your inner peace and joy. Think about your spiritual regimen or
➢The human emotions are the most feared aspect of the
self, as individuals are reluctant and unprepared to
manage them. Managing feelings is like trying to hold
water in the palm of your hand. They are illusive and
deceptive. A decision made under emotional stress and
strain usually impacts emotions negatively. Negative
emotions that are not managed are stored and repressed.
Repression is destructive to a content self since all
feelings, not only negative ones are stored away.
Accessing feelings when they are needed now becomes
difficult, leaving the individual numb and hopeless.
For instance, a girl realizes that she is giving much
attention on the physical aspects and less attention on
her intellectual self. In this way, she can discover how
much money and time spent maintaining her physique
and its consequences in her grades. By this honest
evaluation of herself, she can plan effective actions to
improve her study habits. She can start seeking for help
and for related books to read or browse articles to help
her improve her study habits.
Additional: Aspects of Development
Sensual Self Relates to our senses.
How we use our senses, how we react or receive
information and in what ways do you let information
in and out of your body.
Interactional / Relates on our relationship with other people
Social Self particularly those with your peers and family.
Relates about your strength or weaknesses in a
relationship (as child, siblings, friend or partner).
Nutritional Self Relates to nutritional status.
What are the foods you take to keep your body
healthy? Exercise made?
Contextual Self Relates to your reaction to light, temperature, space,
weather, colours, sound and seasons and your
impact on the environment.
These other aspect of yourself has also great
contribution to your holistic development. These must be
develop together with the 3 basic aspect (physical self,
intellectual self, emotional self or aspect). All Eight
aspects of development should be given equal attention in
your development to be holistically developed.
My Recipe of Success!
Instruction: Make your own recipe of success. It must directed
to the achievement of your goal. Identify your goal (you may
refer to the previous activity of aspects of self-inspired by the
success stories) and break it down into a recipe.
Review the success stories of Manny Pacquiao and Pia Alonzo.
What do you think was the recipe for the success of these well
featured individuals? Remember that these successful people
are not perfect but they have strived to be the best version of
themselves. They have good characteristics, right decisions and
right perspectives. Focus on the process rather than the
rewards. Remember that these individuals have devoted much
hard work, focus and time in order for them to be the persons
Read the story below about “Two wolf” and answer the questions.
Knowing which wolf to feed is the first step towards recognizing you have control over your own
self. Have you ever had thoughts, feelings or acted in ways that were unacceptable to yourself but
felt powerless to control? The purpose of this story is to help you find ways to manage your mind
so that you can live your life more in accordance with what your own judgment says is best for you.
As we grow up, we gradually become aware of the many things in the external world which are
largely beyond our ability to control. These include other people in general and most events in our
lives. Initially this is difficult to accept, but a more shocking realization is that there are many things
about ourselves that we seem powerless to control.
Some of these are our own thoughts, feelings, and actions which unfortunately can be the source
of much distress. It may be thoughts such as “I cannot stop hating my teacher for not giving me
high grades.” It may involve an emotion e.g. “My girlfriend left me and I cannot stop feeling sad,
lonely and unloved.” It can also be in the form of a behaviour such as the inability to control one's
craving for food such as cakes and chocolates.”
But are we indeed really powerless to control our own
maladaptive thoughts, feelings and actions? The
grandfather’s answer "The one you feed" is deceivingly
simple. The results of psychological research indicate that
there are at least four important concepts or ideas implied by
the answer:
1.The mind is not the unitary entity it seems to us but
consists of different parts. For example in the story there
are the two wolves and the “you” that chooses between
them.
2.These parts of the mind/brain can interact and be in conflict
with each other i.e. the two wolves fight for dominance over
our mind and behavior.
3.The “you” has the ability to decide which wolf it will feed.
4.Having made a choice, “you” can decide specifically how to
Reading: THE STORY OF THE TWO WOLVES
The following is an
old Cherokee Indian story
that is enlightening and
helpful.
One evening an old
Cherokee told his grandson
about a battle that goes on
inside people. He said, " My
son, the battle is between
two wolves inside us all. "
"It is a terrible fight
and it is between two
wolves. One is evil - he is
anger, envy, sorrow, regret,
greed, arrogance, self - pity,
guilt, resentment, inferiority,
lies, false pride, superiority,
and ego." He continued,
"The other is good - he is
joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy,
generosity, truth, compassion, and fa ith. The same fight is going on inside you - and
inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather,
" Which wolf will win? "
The old Cherokee simply replied, " The one you feed ".
