What Is Our Core Self?

In many books on spirituality, you see the term “the true self, the core self or more self.” In this post I would like to share what I have learned about my Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, Mike Phillips (my favorite terminology).

Internal Family System Therapy and Core Self

IFS is a treatment model created by B Richard C. Schwartz in the 1980s, working with various parts of ourselves. According to Schwartz, our core self is the deepest part where we can observe all of the many protector parts.

Our connection to the core helps regulate our nervous system and interact with the parts that may be causing us pain.

How do you realize your core self?

Coreself attributes are easy to remember: 8 c:

I’m calmed down

Curious

Thoughtfulness

Clear

Confidence

Creative

courage

connection

When you access the core self, you will find the well of God’s goodness!

IFS is a treatment, not a mental direction

To properly use IFS, you need to work with someone trained to identify the injured parts and help your core self show compassion and understanding to them.

I do not suggest that mental orientation is where IFS therapy is used. The mental orientation is not treatment and we are not trained to work with the various protective components within us. However, spiritual directors who understand the core self attributes can help their clients “go to the core self” as a safe and nurturing place.

Focus on the core self

Great spiritual exercises that anyone can do, as spiritual directors may suggest, are to reflect how each of our core selves feels in our bodies. We can be calm, curious, caring, clear, confident, creative, courageous, able to connect within ourselves, pray, meditate, and connect with God.

So I love reciting 8 C when I’m in the corner of my prayer. Just saying the words and feeling them in my body brings me closer to God. I hope that reflecting these attributes will also help you.