The primary goal of humanistic psychology is to facilitate the expression of a person’s true, authentic Self in their life.
According to this view, the true Self is located beneath two more superficial layers—the positive and negative self-images. At the very top is the positive but false self-image. This is The Mask (The Persona)—the part you allow others to see. Beneath it lies the negative self-image—the so-called Shadow. It contains not only what we hide from others but often what we hide from ourselves. Beneath both of these, at the very core, lies the Authentic Self.
The vast majority of people live inauthentic lives, however rigid and unfree that may be, because we are afraid to drop the mask and see what lies beneath. This, however, is not only a less than fulfilling life; it is a life lacking in truth.
*”To experience the true or authentic self, you must release parental and societal prescriptions of who you ought to be. It requires a certain amount of courage to do so—the courage to be who you are. Connecting with the True Self does not mean you are constantly in a state of bliss or happiness. It simply means you are free to experience life with all its joys and pains and that you do not hide behind rigid defenses and facades. Approaching the true Self can feel threatening and scary because, to reach it, you must own and express things you fear will not win you love and which you usually try to hide.
…every step toward the true Self, no matter how hesitant at first, is important.”* — Howard Sasportas
Authenticity as the Ultimate Self-Love
Being real is the most important manifestation of self-love. This is because it encompasses all parts of us, including the ones we do not like. When we are authentic and dare to express our uniqueness, it becomes easy to respect the truth of others, even if it differs from our own.
And that respect is felt by them as love.
Kameliya Hadzhiyska
Note: The quotations are translated from Bulgarian and are not presented as verbatim citations.
