The BackPacking Psychonaut

Just Pull Yourself Together

Alex Rodgers

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Have you ever thought about the concept of "getting yourself together"?

This seems to be a common phrase people use to label someone who is struggling or out of control. They just can't seem to pull themselves together. But when you think about it, isn’t it a strange idea? How can someone "pull themselves together" if they’re already there?

Most people, when making this judgment, refer to the idea that someone's emotions are all over the place, and to "get themselves together" would mean gaining control over their emotional state.

And while this is true to a certain extent, does the phrase go deeper?

If we consider psychoanalysis or Buddhist teachings, we come to understand that the personality is composed of subcomponents, or "sub-personalities." This means we are not just one personality, but many, each with its own beliefs, goals, and drives.

This explains why you act differently when speaking to your parents compared to when you talk to someone you're attracted to, or why, when you're hungry, you see the world through the lens of hunger.

So when you want to achieve a goal but part of you resists, it means a sub-personality within you is not aligned with that goal and may have conflicting ideas about how to achieve it.

By understanding this and becoming aware of the different personalities in your psyche, you can learn to integrate them into a healthier whole—your conscious awareness.