2 – True Perceptions

False Sarsaparilla / Happy Wanderer (Hardenbergia violacea)

Keyword – Hurt Self

What might your protective behaviours be preventing you from feeling?

Beneath the False Self are often experiences and emotions we learned were too painful, frightening or unacceptable to feel. The façade may have helped us survive them, but healing asks us to gradually become willing to discover what lies underneath.

True Perceptions invites you into this second stage of the Three Selves journey — turning with compassion towards the Hurt Self and the experiences, unmet needs, fears, grief and false beliefs that helped shape who you learned to become.

Rather than remaining focused only on the protective behaviour, this essence encourages curiosity about its deeper cause: What happened to me? What did I feel? What did I come to believe because of it?

As feelings and memories become available, a more truthful understanding of your story can begin to emerge.

Invitation: This essence invites you to look beneath the façade with courage and compassion — allowing yourself to feel, question and understand the experiences and emotional injuries that shaped your beliefs about yourself, others and love.

Loving qualities: Courage • Compassion • Emotional honesty • Vulnerability • Curiosity • Discernment • Desire for truth

Patterns revealed: Emotional avoidance • Fear • Shame • Grief • Unmet needs • Mistrust • Suppression • False beliefs • Protective behaviours