Becoming Who You Are: An Introduction to Individuation

At some point in our lives, we might begin to ask deeper questions such as; who am I really? What do I want beyond all the "shoulds". These are not just identity questions, they are soul-level questions. In Jungian theory, the journey toward answering them is called individuation.

Individuation might sound like a complex word but it describes something very human. It describes the process of becoming your most authentic self, not the version of you shaped by other people's expectations (your parents, teachers or society) but the deeper self that's been lurking quietly under the surface all the time.

We begin life receiving messages about who we are supposed to be. Maybe you were the good girl, the strong one or the clever one and so you learned to play that role sometimes at the cost of your real feelings. Individuation is the slow, courageous process of peeling back the layers. It's not about becoming someone new. It's about becoming who you truly are; your authentic self.

Jung believed that much of our identity is hidden in the unconscious; our inner world that speaks through dreams, symbols, feelings and our bodily sensations. In Inner Work, Robert A. Johnson writes about the importance of listening to this inner world. He describes how dreams and active imagination can reveal parts of ourselves that we've forgotten, denied or never fully met.

Individuation invites us to turn toward these hidden parts, not to get rid of them. This might mean welcoming back your creative side, your vulnerability, your anger and your joy. It's about becoming whole, not perfect.

In therapy, I often witness clients begin this journey, sometimes without realising it. A dream might bring up an old memory, a journal entry might uncover a buried longing or neglected need. Sometimes the question What if I don't want the life I thought I was supposed to want? These moments are stirring and they can be the beginning of individuation.

How do we start?

We begin by listening to and being curious about the voice inside that says this isn't quite me and the parts that we've tucked away because they might have been a source of shame. You might ask:

• What part of me have I hidden away to enable me to fit in?

• What keeps calling to me, even if I don't fully understand it yet?

Individuation can be slow work and it might not follow a straight path but it can be some of the most meaningful work we can do. Therapy can be a safe space to explore these questions and meet your inner world with curiosity, compassion and care.

Individuation isn't about becoming someone better. It's about become someone authentic and it's definitely a journey worth taking.

Robert A Johnson: Inner Work - Using dreams and active imagination for personal growth