Personality and the Self

In this blog I would like to follow up on the subject of my last blog, personalities, by again ruminating on the nature of humans, whether physical or non-physical.

Through a study of definitions of what makes up a personality, it is clear that the word is generally used to describe external personal aspects.  This is indicated in the first definition, that personality is, "the visible aspect of one's character as it impresses others: 'He has a pleasing personality'."  As to Psychology, we find that it is believed to be, "The sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual," but also adds that it is, "The essential character of a person."  This last definition introduces the concept of features and traits which make up an individuals nature, which include moral or ethical qualities.  Moral and ethical questions are usually left to the spiritual arena. (Dictionary.com)

Since, in the current Scientific world view, only the external, or externalized aspects of we humans,  is recognized as having validity,  this primary focus on the external is not surprising.  However, the really fuzzy part of these definitions is the mental/mind aspect.  Since, in Western Psychological thought, the mind is not believed to exist other than as a product of the brain, makes the mind an aspect of the physical self, but is it?.

The mind, however, is generally acknowledged to be that which, "reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc." (Dictionary.com)  In this blog I maintain that those products of the mind are actually a product of our Belief Systems which has been incorporated through Programming and Indoctrination throughout our lives. That, only by understanding what makes up our Belief System, can we begin to stop identifying with those beliefs.

In these Ruminations On Responsibilities I have also been encouraging examining more deeply our humanness, by maintaining that humans are much more than what is apparent through our interactions with other humans.  In the major fields of Psychology, any belief in an inner self, goes only so far as to posit an unconscious which is not generally endowed with mental faculties.

Incorporating all things mental as an aspect of the external self, is essentially a Western focus.  Those who are interested in Eastern/Oriental ideas are aware that a major goal of meditation, and other such practices, is to still the mind in order to connect to aspects of the self not caught up in personality or mental activity.  Despite the fact that the Western Scientific World View refuses to, "go there," a large segment of the Western World's population holds to various beliefs which incorporate the idea that we humans are more than just physical.

Basically, there are four main beliefs regarding the essential nature of humans.  (1) The Scientific World View which holds that everything which exists is physical in nature, having evolved over time; that there is nothing that is non-physical. This group includes members of other political systems which have rejected any and all religions, which I am lumping under the heading of Communist.  (2) Another, probably the largest, major block, are those who follow some variation of the major Religions, many of whom believe in a Profit figure which provides a focus of that religion.  (3) Opposed to those followers of Religious beliefs are those individuals who entirely reject those beliefs, many of whom, residing in the Western World, have adopted the Scientific World View,  (4) Most of the balance are members of various cultures which have not been absorbed into the major three other groupings.

The other group of individuals, not included in the above four groupings, are those who consider themselves to be spiritual, without affiliations, which, in the Western World, include a large percentage of the population, according to recent census figures.  Because the statisticians don't know how to classify them, they are lumped under the religious. 

Essentially, many of these individuals have come to believe that they are not just physical entities, but are also non-physical in nature.  For some, these beliefs also allow for the possibility that not only are humans made up of non-physical aspects, but that the universe is also basically non-physical, which, for lack of a better word, some in the developing alternative Scientific community call, "mind."  Only with the advent of the computers have we been provided with a concept to which our minds can be compared.  Further it has been said that our minds are capable of processing more information than can computers. 

A major problem in the Scientific Community, is that fairly recent findings, developments and speculations about reality, have outgrown the Nineteenth Century Scientific conclusions about the nature of Reality.  This has resulted in a split in the Community, which is not being discussed.  Staunch followers of the older Scientific World View can only conclude that these newer researchers and thinkers have joined the Religious camp. Those who hold the older Scientific World View, adamantly refuse to acknowledge that they are just as much followers of a religion, called, "Science," as those who belong to the various world's religions.

By entertaining the possibility that our personalities, the mainly exterior aspect of self with which many identify, is only a changeable manifestation of an underlying, real, non-physical, self, can free up the possibility for change.  Also, by understanding that, by identifying with our external and physical aspects, we are actually identifying with the Programming and Indoctrination to which each of us has been subjected all our lives.  Such a transformation can be accomplished by using our amazing non-physical minds to begin to understand what that Programming and Indoctrination has been.

I end this blog with the suggestion that this is a project well-worth beginning.

Shirley Gallup