'Holistic insight' could be defined as being: fresh awareness of the interconnection between one's emotional, cognitive, physical, or spiritual aspects of self. Or it could involve a new understanding of 'layers' of self. In the holistic systems way, there potentially is much time spent on teaching/learning in order to boost awareness.

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By 'layers' of self, we mean the many pieces of the puzzle that allow us to be a conscious, functional human. First, in this holistic view, we have a soul which dreamed this lifetime for the purpose of growing further toward fulfillment and joy--either through lessons involving pain or pleasure--right down to the time of year we enter the world. So we then begin with a temperament we're born with--like a basic energy, either more or less passive or active, dominant or submissive, with particular defining characteristics. Except, in the beginning, we have no sense of self at all--we only feel that we are everything. It's only a number of weeks or months later that we experience a profound sense of emptiness when it dawns on us we are not everything. This begins our lifelong effort to establish a self-concept. 

 

 Even as soon as birth, we begin to form a 'bioenergetic stance and posture' which helps us to manage our developmental challenges. With some, the energy flow is chaotic, reflecting dissociative experience. For others, the energy flow is weak, or rooted to the ground in a defiant stance, or pushing up trying to appear bigger than how they were told they were. Based on our temperament, we fall into one of three 'core reaction patterns' as we encounter stress, each with a dark and a light side, and utilize four modifying 'moods', each of which also has a dark or light side, to serve as 'smokescreens' for our core pattern. 

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Gradually we become aware of how we prefer to be in relation to life and others, our personality orientation upon which many rely for a sense of self. Beyond those preferences, we may become aware of positive core qualities, such as loyalty, honesty, dedication, generosity, courage, perseverance, leadership, which become more of an intrinsic blueprint of self. Some may rely on identities, like being a father, an ironworker, a friend, a neighbor for part of their idea of self. And for some, their ethical bottom lines become their strongest indicator of self.

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But there is another perspective on self, which involves theories of consciousness. The ancient Vedic view is that our existence as a self is only a manifestation of a larger Self, which is part of the pure consciousness of the Universe. Becoming more aware of all layers of self through insight, and more in tune with our positive core qualities and ethical compass takes us closer to realizing a true sense of self, while stubborn attachment to achievements, status, possessions, beliefs, traits or other ways of identifying as a "somebody" lead us into conflict and disharmony. There is a way to experience regularly the joy of pure consciousness to gradually think from the place of the Self--mantra meditation. When this occurs in conjunction with holistic psychotherapy, it accelerates self awareness dramatically.

 

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