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What is our Core Self?

What is our Core Self?

Last updated on: June 9, 2025 at 11:23 am by Teresa Blythe

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What is our Core Self? 2025-06-09T11:23:55-08:00 Teresa Blythe

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In many books on spirituality you see the terms True Self, Core Self or Higher Self referring to the part of us connected to the Divine. In this post, I want to share what I’ve learned from my Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, Mike Phillips, about the Core Self (my favorite term).

Internal Family Systems Therapy and Core Self

IFS is a therapy model created in the 1980’s by Richard C. Schwartz, that works with various parts within us–some which help us manage anxiety, hurt and chaos and others that simply try to protect us from life’s “slings and arrows.” Our Core Self, according to Schwartz, is that deepest part of us that can observe all the many protector parts.

Connecting with the Core helps us regulate our nervous system and interact with the parts that may be causing us distress.

How do we notice the Core Self?

The attributes of the Core Self are easy to remember: 8 C’s:

Calm

Curious

Compassionate

Clear

Confident

Creative

Courageous

Connected

When we access our Core Self, we find a well of Divine goodness!

IFS is Therapy, not Spiritual Direction

To use IFS properly, you need to work with someone trained in helping you identify hurting parts and assisting you in allowing your Core Self to show compassion and understanding to them.

I’m not suggesting that spiritual direction is the place where IFS therapy is used. Spiritual direction is not therapy, nor are we trained in working with the various protector parts within us. However, spiritual directors who understand the attributes of the Core Self can assist clients in “going to the Core Self” as a safe and nurturing place.

Focus on the Core Self

A great spiritual exercise that anyone can do, and spiritual directors may suggest, is to invite reflection on how each of the C’s of the Core Self feel deep within our bodies. The more we become Calm, Curious, Compassionate, Clear, Confident, Creative, Courageous and Connected within ourselves, the more we are able to pray, meditate and connect with God.

That’s why I love reciting the 8 C’s when I’m in my prayer nook. Just saying the words and feeling them in my body brings me closer to the Divine. I hope reflecting on these attributes helps you as well.

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About Teresa Blythe

Teresa Blythe is a full-time spiritual director and ordained UCC minister living and working in Phoenix, AZ. She is founder of the Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction and served as the Director of the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction in Tucson for over 14 years. She now trains spiritual directors in the Apprentice Training Program, which she created. Contact her at [email protected]. You can read more about the author here.

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