Wrongaholic Twelve Steps – Step 4: Who The Hell Are You?

What in the world were you thinking?!

If you’ve ever heard this apprehensive question and at least somewhat understood the reason it was asked, you will easily be able to grasp today’s intriguing subject as we investigate the perplexing human condition of multiple personalities.

But even if you have never considered how a person can feel so right one moment and then so terribly wrong another, pay close attention to today’s fable because the chickens are coming home to roost.

Your Ponder Party Invitation

More than two thousand years ago, the great philosopher Socrates warned that “the unexamined life is not worth living” and his sentiment is the idea driving Step 4 of The Wrongaholic Program: Who The Hell Are You?

With Socrates’ admonition in mind we’ll jump straight into today’s journey with this fascinating statement:

You are not what you think you are… but WHAT you THINK, you are.

The ambiguity of this phrase belies a hint that humans are comprised of much more than what is visible in the moment and whatever that value may be, it is a culmination of all our thoughts and actions to date.

And when one stops to consider the incredible variety of circumstances we have encountered throughout our lives and the decisions each situation demanded from us, it should be quite easy to understand how anyone might become occasionally confused with exactly who they are or struggle with trying to be all things to all people.

The Many Mees and Theys and Thems

In order to withstand the uncertainties of existing, humans require a stable emotional core which is both resistant to change and yet instantly able to adapt to a constantly fluctuating environment.

This emotionally stable control centre contains the human essence we call character and it provides a solid and predictable foundation upon which we build the person called “me”.

And while character is the force which contains our individual natures, it is not revealed directly but through limited projections of ourselves called person–alities.

Some people navigate life quite sufficiently with only a few personalities but for most folks, dozens or even hundreds of separate identities are required to successfully make their way though the myriad of relationships and circumstances encountered daily.

Doh! You Wore a Suit To A Pajama Party?

This need to continuously shift from many people to being You Now generates significant psychic weight which creates effects later.

People begin to experience doubts and feel that they are acting “differently” or are perhaps “not themselves today”.

What we need to understand is that these feelings of anxiety, frustration and confusion are warnings that we’ve got too many players on the field and SOMEONE is about to be penalized.

Here are some examples of personality confusion:

• A priest sublimates his compassionate and caring personality and portrays himself as a lover with his young parishioner.
• A father disconnects from the personality that warily fends for his family and verbally challenges some arrogant punks in a restaurant.
  
• A police officer defeats his ethical lawman personality and provides false testimony to win a high profile case.
  
• A politician ignores his personality which drove him to serve his constituents and accepts the first of many bribes.
  

We’ve all heard stories like these and they provide ample and painful evidence that combining in-congruent personalities invariably leads to our characters being twisted to the degree that all personalities get a little wonky. People start asking if we’re “okay”.

Contemplate, Illuminate and ReCreate

As the authors of our unique, specific psychological makeup we can create as many or as few personalities as we require – without being concerned that they will be lost in the mix. They won’t.

Every closet contains a few outfits that only get worn on special occasions and that is how our characters are organized, too.

Simply choose the YOU that suits your current needs and start feeling good about living on purpose.

Thank you, friend.

Barry out.

Wrongaholic Program Step 1 – Admit You Are Powerless Over Mistakes

Wrongaholic Program Step 2 – Everyone Makes Mistakes So Get Over It

Wrongahlic Program Step 3 – Grab The Cosmic Bull By The Horns

PS. Please watch for Step 5 of the Wrongaholic Program: The Grass Is As Green As You Are – Coming Jan 2013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Are_You_%28song%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_thyself

Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?

I woke up in a Soho doorway
A policeman knew my name
He said “You can go sleep at home tonight
If you can get up and walk away”

I staggered back to the underground
And the breeze blew back my hair
I remember throwin’ punches around
And preachin’ from my chair

chorus:
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
‘Cause I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

I took the tube back out of town
Back to the Rollin’ Pin
I felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of Rin Tin Tin

I stretched back and I hiccupped
And looked back on my busy day
Eleven hours in the Tin Pan
God, there’s got to be another way

Who are you?
Ooh wa ooh wa ooh wa ooh wa …

Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?

(chorus)

I know there’s a place you walked
Where love falls from the trees
My heart is like a broken cup
I only feel right on my knees

I spit out like a sewer hole
Yet still receive your kiss
How can I measure up to anyone now
After such a love as this?