The exercise may be modified appropriately, according to one’s own purpose and existential needs, by adding stages of dis-identification to include other functions besides the three fundamental ones (physical, emotional, mental), as well as subpersonalities, roles, etc. It can also begin with dis-identification from material possessions. Some examples follow:

In the form which follows, the first phase of the exercise—the dis-identification—consists of three parts dealing with the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of awareness. This leads to the self-identification phase. Once some experience is gained with it, the exercise can be expanded or modified according to need, as will be indicated further on. When reading through this collection, we gain a fuller and more complex picture concerning how Assagioli conceived and worked with subpersonalities, which I am confident will give English-speaking readers a fresh understanding that will properly expand this key concept of psychosynthesis. We learn that subpersonalities are not only to be understood as pathological patterns – meaning parts of the personality that have been repressed, rejected or neglected during childhood due to non-empathic caregivers. This constant input of influences veils the clarity of consciousness and produces spurious identifications of the self with the content of consciousness, rather than with consciousness itself. If we are to make self- consciousness explicit, clear, and vivid, we must first dis-identify ourselves from the contents of our consciousness. Identification

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Unfortunately, when covered up, our uglier sides may often find a way to leak out in ways we don’t expect. We may find our most destructive facets creeping to the surface when we are angry, drunk, or otherwise disinhibited. Subpersonality is a temporary personality mode. It can be active at one moment, and can alter after a while. You may have noticed that you act differently in the presence of different people. You are someone else at work and you are someone else at home. I know people who are extroverts at work, they are loud, funny, etc., but when they are around their close ones at home they seem to turn into quiet introverts who like loneliness and serenity. Depending on the part that is active, we can behave differently.

This process often occurs without a clear understanding of its meaning and often against the wish and will of the individual involved in it. But a conscious, purposeful, willing cooperation can greatly facilitate, foster, and hasten it. Make a sign with the words SERENITY, using the colour and lettering that best conveys this quality to you. Place this sign where you can see it daily and if possible at the time when you need serenity the most. Whenever you look at it recall within yourself the feeling of serenity. Reading Eugene Smith’s 2019 biography Assagioli in his Own Words (based on a conversation between Assagioli and Eugene Smith just prior to Assagioli’s death in 1974), I took notice of the following statement by Assagioli:Examples: “There are so many flaws in this novel of mine, I’m such a poor writer!”, “B+? I could have done way better!”, “I’m such a weak person compared to _____. I should be better.” The Victim Perhaps we can think about it ilike a dance. You would move differently at a disco than you would at a ballet class, but you would also dance differently depending on who is around, or how you are feeling. It all gets blurry and overly-complex at this point, so I find the subpersonality concept a handy way to stay grounded, and a useful tool in excavating different parts of our being, while knowing that it is not the whole picture. What is very important is that the role of a given part is not its essence, in other words, if, for example, an internal critic slates you for doing something, it is not everything that this part stands for. Your internal critic can also experience other emotions. Moreover, he can affect you in many other ways than this. In my therapeutic work with clients, I have often encountered that their "internal critic" is at some point very critical and demeaning, and when we get to know him better and listen to his fears and needs, he turns out that be an internal advisor. No longer does he need to criticize, but rather supports and gives positive remarks. Assume a state of relaxation and take a few deep breaths. Then think about the idea of serenity: hold the concept ‘serenity’ in your mind, and reflect on it. What is its quality, its nature, its meaning, etc.? As you develop insights, ideas, or images associated with the concept, record them in your Psychological Workbook (No.1). There are many ways to work with subpersonalities, which I’ll come to in a moment, but I wish to express that they each hold a degree of energy and power. The more we can step into our subpersonalities, including those we find excruciatingly uncomfortable, the more we are able to tap into parts of our latent energy.

Alternation, alliances and co-operation. Next comes the phase where we let the subpersonalities experience ‘an alternation of expressions in accordance with internal impulses and external circumstances. Alternation leads to alliances, to co-operation. And from a progressive co-operation we arrive at an organic synthesis’ (Assagioli, p.53).It is also interesting to note that Assagioli considered subpersonalities to be ‘entities’– living beings – which can live a semi-autonomous life that affects the ‘I’ through patterns of behaviour that are outside of our conscious control. Assagioli (p.93) even suggests ‘each subpersonality has a kind of ego’ and that subpersonalities ‘without our awareness, independent of, or even against, our will – [find] the means of achieving their aims’ (p.84); and Assagioli states that subpersonalities can be co-conscious centres in our personality, meaning they know things about us that we are not aware of ourselves. However, the semi-autonomous nature of the subpersonalities is a condition we can change via personal psychosynthesis, which can bring the various subpersonalities under the wise leadership of the conscious ‘I’. Parts use a variety of strategies to satisfy their needs. An internal critic may discourage us from acting to prevent us from experiencing failure, and thus having destructive impact on us (e.g. laziness, shyness, self-criticism). Assume a physical attitude of serenity. Relax all muscular and nervous tension. Breathe slowly and rhythmically. Allow serenity to express itself on your face. It may help to visualize yourself with that expression.