What is the Authentic Self?
One who understands and functions as a member of a higher divine, spiritual order who uses his/her gifts, talents, knowledge, acquired skills, etc. to accomplish his/her manifold divine purpose and aligns his/her decisions and relationships with that purpose. Each person’s manifold purpose is to seek and assist his fellowman in a practical way that leads to the deeper discovery of self & the Creator.
What are the 6 Dimensions of the Authentic Self?
According to Dr. Webb's grounded theory, Discovering the Authentic Self, individuals are multidimensional and experience life on and within these dimensions. Individuals who are on the journey of discovering their authentic selves are people who thrive in life by manifesting their depth of self, which comes from acknowledging the every aspect of their beings, including spiritual, psychological, emotional, sexual, physical and social. Individuals are in the process of Being who they are as they aspire to Become. The interdependence of the 6 Dimensions of the Authentic Self systemically flow into one another as individuals Be and Become as well as relate to themselves, others, the environment and God.
Dr. Webb's Depiction of Being and Becoming the Authentic Self on All 6 Dimensions
The Spiritual Dimension
Spirituality includes the Creator of the heavens and earth and all of the unseen forces felt and perceived within human experiences. It also signifies the deep convictions and beliefs that individuals hold dear to their hearts. Spirituality is relevant in how individuals view their very existence. Spirituality includes faith, hope, kindness, and love, which are also viewed as emotions.
Spiritual practices range from prayer and meditation, being kind and charitable acts to giving birth to another human being. The Spiritual Dimension of Being and Becoming the Authentic Self governs every aspect of life, including the other five dimensions that follows. Consequently, The Spiritual Dimension does not equate to religion, but will naturally encompass one's religious affiliations. Individuals are spirit, who possess a soul and live in a physical body.
Spiritual practices range from prayer and meditation, being kind and charitable acts to giving birth to another human being. The Spiritual Dimension of Being and Becoming the Authentic Self governs every aspect of life, including the other five dimensions that follows. Consequently, The Spiritual Dimension does not equate to religion, but will naturally encompass one's religious affiliations. Individuals are spirit, who possess a soul and live in a physical body.
The Psychological Dimension
The Psychological Dimension originates and initiates the Authentic Self with beliefs, perspectives, consciousness, awareness, memories, thoughts, etc. For instance, being able to think rationally and make effective decisions is different from existing. Existing is not a state of economic values. It is a state of mind. Living life is a state of mind.
Within the Psychological Dimension, individuals have core thoughts and beliefs connected to their spirituality as well as paradigms about every area of life. In order to Become one's Authentic Self, individuals must undergo the painful process of reframing their paradigms. Paradigms are framed based on cultural environments, experiences, and realities. An interesting caveat about the Psychological Dimension is that individuals struggle with differentiating their thoughts and feelings. For instance, when asked what one thinks, he/she responds with the statement, "I feel..." When asked how does one feel, he/she responds with the statement, “I think...”
Within the Psychological Dimension, individuals have core thoughts and beliefs connected to their spirituality as well as paradigms about every area of life. In order to Become one's Authentic Self, individuals must undergo the painful process of reframing their paradigms. Paradigms are framed based on cultural environments, experiences, and realities. An interesting caveat about the Psychological Dimension is that individuals struggle with differentiating their thoughts and feelings. For instance, when asked what one thinks, he/she responds with the statement, "I feel..." When asked how does one feel, he/she responds with the statement, “I think...”
The Emotional Dimension
The Emotional Dimension is the most personal, individualized, and intrinsic. Individuals identify with a myriad of emotions, such as trust, fear, confidence, empathy, strength, anxiety, guilt, suspicion, worry, joy, bashfulness, happiness, sadness, peace, boredom, anger, love, hatred, and discontentment, to name a few. Various experiences evoke various emotions, which are directly related to thoughts. Feelings and emotions can either be a hindrance or motivator to Discovering the Authentic Self.
Experiencing emotions is a function of the Emotional Dimension. Emotions can be experienced subjectively and objectively because emotions are felt and seen by self and others. For instance, the emotions of love and hatred can be felt and observed. Individuals know if they are loved or hated based on how others treat them. In addition, individuals are possess the ability to determine if others were loved or hated based on how they were treated. Individuals experience emotions directly or by observation.
Some individuals need to have their emotions recognized and nurtured by others; this is the fulfillment of emotional needs. Other individuals fulfill their own needs. Most emotional needs are fulfilled in relation to external factors such as a relationship with God, work, marriage, etc.
Experiencing emotions is a function of the Emotional Dimension. Emotions can be experienced subjectively and objectively because emotions are felt and seen by self and others. For instance, the emotions of love and hatred can be felt and observed. Individuals know if they are loved or hated based on how others treat them. In addition, individuals are possess the ability to determine if others were loved or hated based on how they were treated. Individuals experience emotions directly or by observation.
Some individuals need to have their emotions recognized and nurtured by others; this is the fulfillment of emotional needs. Other individuals fulfill their own needs. Most emotional needs are fulfilled in relation to external factors such as a relationship with God, work, marriage, etc.
The Sexual Dimension
Sexuality intercourse is the one act where individuals are one all 6 Dimensions at the same time. Dr. Webb uses Advocates for Youth, Circles of Sexuality as a contextual framework for understanding the Sexual Dimension. With the Sexual Dimension as the focal system, The Advocates for Youth constructed five major components, which are
- Sensuality, the circle that includes the awareness, acceptance of, and comfort with one’s own body, the physiological and psychological enjoyment of one’s own body, and the bodies of others
- Intimacy, the circle that includes the ability and need to experience closeness to another human being and have it returned.
- Sexual Identity, the circle that includes the development of a sense of who one is sexually, including a sense of maleness and femaleness.
- Sexual Health & Reproduction, the circle that includes the attitudes and behaviors related to producing children, care and maintenance of the sex and reproduction organs, and health consequences of sexual behavior.
- Sexualization, the circle that includes the utilization of sexuality with the purpose to influence, control, or manipulate others. (p. 129)
The Physical Dimension
Discovering the Authentic Self consists of the ownership, acknowledgement, expression, and need to care for the physical body. The Physical Dimension is the most visible and tangible dimension that includes the anatomical, biological, and physiological systems. The physical body's basic needs are adequate and restorative sleep, nutritious food, clean water to drink and bath, physical and psychological safety, clean air to breath, Individuals live in a physical body that they will carry with them throughout their lives. How can one experience life without a physical body? How can one connect with his/her culturally relative environment through the five senses of sight, smell, touch, sound, taste, as well as intuition without a physical body?
The Physical Dimension comprises of ecosystems with biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) components of the environment, interacting as a system. All components and systems of one's ecosystem are linked together through cycles and flows such as, living in a family as well as a community with stores, schools, parks, etc. Thus, an individual's ecosystem in his/her Physical Dimension should be ever changing as he/she Becomes more authentic.
The Physical Dimension comprises of ecosystems with biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) components of the environment, interacting as a system. All components and systems of one's ecosystem are linked together through cycles and flows such as, living in a family as well as a community with stores, schools, parks, etc. Thus, an individual's ecosystem in his/her Physical Dimension should be ever changing as he/she Becomes more authentic.
The Social Dimension
The Social Dimension is where the other dimensions are exhibited, articulated, experienced, shared, developed, practiced, and communicated. Interacting with others in various roles, settings, and circumstances, whether familial, personal, or professional, demonstrate the countless experiences that occur among individuals as social beings. In relation to the visibility of the physical dimension, embedded in each experience are roles that individuals ascribe to such as parent, teacher, spouse, volunteer, attorney, etc. As individuals remain on the road of discovering their Authentic Selves, they begin to differentiate between who they are intrinsically versus the roles they ascribed to. Needless to say, the Social Dimension consists of relating. Individuals relate with God, the Creator, self, the environment and others.
Relating with God
Again, one's Spiritual Dimension governs the other dimensions. The acknowledgement of God assists individuals in relating to God. Acknowledging God is either believing in or rejecting Him according to one's spiritual paradigms. Those who acknowledge God possess both a macro and micro level relationship with Him. From a macro-level, individuals relate to God based on His providential care. The micro-level relationship takes on a deep and personal conviction where power and control are relinquished and placed in the hands of God. Others relate to God as being “good, orderly, direction (G.O.D.)” or Infinite Intelligence.
Relating with Self
Individuals possess an increased awareness of their spiritual, psychological, emotional, sexual, physical, and social dimensions. Individuals relate to self via self awareness, self-acceptance and self-efficacy.
Self-awareness can not be obtained absent of a network of people who aid in shaping personal narratives. Without relationships with other people, self-awareness is skewed lacking the depth and understanding of self when one only relates with self. Gaining an understanding of the 6 Dimensions in the concurrent processes of Being and Becoming help individuals understand the interaction of their spirituality, paradigms, emotional states, sexuality, and physical beings. This knowledge and understanding causes individuals to create situations, live in environments, and ascribe to roles where they can be their authentic selves. As individuals become more aware of their authentic selves, they decrease the effort in trying to meet other’s expectations.
Self-acceptance is imperative for Discovering the Authentic Self. After individuals become aware of the self honesty, open-mindedness and willingness are key essential components to accept the self. No one can change another individual. Individuals can only aspire to Become, which requires self-transformation.
Self-efficacy is simply when individuals believe in their own capabilities and effectiveness. They related with themselves through encouragement, motivation, and drive. The more an individual accomplishes a goal or performs at a proficient level, then his/her self-efficacy increases. Internal motivators and hindrances impact one's self-efficacy. Depending on one's self-efficacy, individuals may or may not remain on the journey of discovering their authentic selves.
Relating with the Environment
Relating to the environment consist of the many different experiences that individuals share. The environment includes people, places, and things within each individual's ecosystem. In other words, the environment consists of everything that can be experienced through the senses including perceptual senses. Moreover, the environment includes society and the relative cultural environment, in which any event or transaction can be assigned a meaning to that experience. Individuals live in a personal space called home. Home should be a direct reflection of self. Lots can be assessed and learned about an individual based on their personal space. Other individuals chose to relate to the environment via recycling, wildlife preservation, advocacy for clean water, and planting trees.
Relating with Others
As stated above, one cannot discovering the authentic self without relating with others in the social dimension. Individuals have a vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationships with others. Interacting with others affirm and confirm, as well as dis-affirm and challenge one's paradigms, decisions, interactions, behaviors, and even the aspirations to Become. How can one describe or explain who they are separate from God and/or others? Again, individuals relate with others by ascribing to roles as well as finding commonalities.
Ascribing to roles help individuals better understand their authentic selves; in addition, it aids others in understanding them. Meaning to ascribed roles are entrenched in one's cultural environments. Congruence is a determining factor if an ascribed role is authentic to the self.
Another aspect of relating with others is finding commonalities with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Discovering the authentic self includes engaging with diversities of gender, race, ethnicity, nationalities, socioeconomic statues, marital statuses, educational levels, religious affiliations, professions, interests, and disinterests, to name a few. Despite these differences, individuals who seek to find commonalities with others fully discover their authenticity.
Relating with God
Again, one's Spiritual Dimension governs the other dimensions. The acknowledgement of God assists individuals in relating to God. Acknowledging God is either believing in or rejecting Him according to one's spiritual paradigms. Those who acknowledge God possess both a macro and micro level relationship with Him. From a macro-level, individuals relate to God based on His providential care. The micro-level relationship takes on a deep and personal conviction where power and control are relinquished and placed in the hands of God. Others relate to God as being “good, orderly, direction (G.O.D.)” or Infinite Intelligence.
Relating with Self
Individuals possess an increased awareness of their spiritual, psychological, emotional, sexual, physical, and social dimensions. Individuals relate to self via self awareness, self-acceptance and self-efficacy.
Self-awareness can not be obtained absent of a network of people who aid in shaping personal narratives. Without relationships with other people, self-awareness is skewed lacking the depth and understanding of self when one only relates with self. Gaining an understanding of the 6 Dimensions in the concurrent processes of Being and Becoming help individuals understand the interaction of their spirituality, paradigms, emotional states, sexuality, and physical beings. This knowledge and understanding causes individuals to create situations, live in environments, and ascribe to roles where they can be their authentic selves. As individuals become more aware of their authentic selves, they decrease the effort in trying to meet other’s expectations.
Self-acceptance is imperative for Discovering the Authentic Self. After individuals become aware of the self honesty, open-mindedness and willingness are key essential components to accept the self. No one can change another individual. Individuals can only aspire to Become, which requires self-transformation.
Self-efficacy is simply when individuals believe in their own capabilities and effectiveness. They related with themselves through encouragement, motivation, and drive. The more an individual accomplishes a goal or performs at a proficient level, then his/her self-efficacy increases. Internal motivators and hindrances impact one's self-efficacy. Depending on one's self-efficacy, individuals may or may not remain on the journey of discovering their authentic selves.
Relating with the Environment
Relating to the environment consist of the many different experiences that individuals share. The environment includes people, places, and things within each individual's ecosystem. In other words, the environment consists of everything that can be experienced through the senses including perceptual senses. Moreover, the environment includes society and the relative cultural environment, in which any event or transaction can be assigned a meaning to that experience. Individuals live in a personal space called home. Home should be a direct reflection of self. Lots can be assessed and learned about an individual based on their personal space. Other individuals chose to relate to the environment via recycling, wildlife preservation, advocacy for clean water, and planting trees.
Relating with Others
As stated above, one cannot discovering the authentic self without relating with others in the social dimension. Individuals have a vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationships with others. Interacting with others affirm and confirm, as well as dis-affirm and challenge one's paradigms, decisions, interactions, behaviors, and even the aspirations to Become. How can one describe or explain who they are separate from God and/or others? Again, individuals relate with others by ascribing to roles as well as finding commonalities.
Ascribing to roles help individuals better understand their authentic selves; in addition, it aids others in understanding them. Meaning to ascribed roles are entrenched in one's cultural environments. Congruence is a determining factor if an ascribed role is authentic to the self.
Another aspect of relating with others is finding commonalities with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Discovering the authentic self includes engaging with diversities of gender, race, ethnicity, nationalities, socioeconomic statues, marital statuses, educational levels, religious affiliations, professions, interests, and disinterests, to name a few. Despite these differences, individuals who seek to find commonalities with others fully discover their authenticity.