Hi Seaturtle

Just a comment on the notion of ‘false Self’. Jung would talk about personas, the masks we ware the roles we have.  These personas arn’t false but ways creating healthy engagement.. The way we interact with our family is different (and should be) then the way we interact with friends, coworkers, strangers…. Personas are not about being fake or false but the establishment of healthy boundaries for the interaction. They do sometimes feel like being  ‘fake’ especially when our boundaries are unclear and maybe not so healthy.

The ‘false’ self is also sometimes thought of as our small self.  The task of the first half of life to to establishing this sense of self with healthy boundaries.
In the second half of life is the task to detach from the this notion of identity. the True Self detaches from the roles or personas we have. They still play a role in our interactions however we ‘see’ them for what they are. The perspective changes. We are not our experiences, we have experiences, we are not our memories we have memories, we are not our feelings we have feelings, we are not our thoughts, we have thoughts….

The notion of the True Self isn’t ‘out thier’ but within. Put another way the personas arise from and return to the True Self . Retuning you might notice the need to judge, measure, compare, label fades away…. like the label ‘selfish’

In my experience the practice of  returning to the Self aways comes with quieting and experience of compassion for myself and others. The arising of compassion isn’t something you make happen but happens.  When I notice I’m feeling anxious, judgey and less compassionate its usually because I’m to attached to the roles/personas I have.

It takes a healthy ego and senses of self (needed n the first half of life) to let go of ego (itself) so to discover the SELF  🙂