5 main phases of life

[Margee]

Transition can sometimes be a difficult and painful process.

Carl Jung identified 5 main phases of life:

1. Accommodation (meeting others' expectations - usually, this takes place in the first part of  our lifes ) Sometimes, the way in which we 'accommodate' others is different to our true preferences.
 
2. Separation (rejecting the accommodated self .This is when one takes off the masks and looks at them and starts to ask questions about who he really is)

3. Liminality (a period of uncertainty, where life seems directionless and meanders, place of dying and rebirth, even of metamorphosis, the place where the caterpillar spins its cocoon and disappears from view, lacking in direction, and unsure how to go forward. )

4. Reintegration (working out 'who I am' and becoming comfortable with that identity)

5. Individuation (facing up to and accepting the undesirable aspects of our own character)

I was wondering where you all are in these 5 phases of life and what steps are you taking to go from one 'phase' to another.  How are you 'effecting' your next change to 'come about'? I guess I could say that I am in 'phase 3 - Liminality.

I can honestly say that I am in a combination of all the 5 phases. This is why I joined the forum. I certainly lived most of the first half of my life in phase 1, where I put on the 'mask' of extroversion. As you know from reading my posts - this has worn me out. As I look back over my life - I have always been an introvert.(although I consider myself to be an 'outgoing' introvert)

All my life, my behaviour and perception of myself was modified in order to 'fit in' with the various social situations, family expectations, religious expectations and job expectations.

 I find myself going through painful changes such as  boredom with things and people that once held great interest and dominated my life. I am not quite sure where to go from here?I want desperately to start acting, thinking and speaking in harmony with MY inner self. I want to be rational, loving, contented and free.

At the present moment - I am investigating everything I can read on transformation and I love belonging to this forum with all you folks who are also in this process.

Sincerely, Margee

[Bodhi]

I'm not sure where I am, but I know this, I'm tired of being me. I'm tired of being an introvert. I'm tired of every time I think so doing something or saying something my body and mind locks up. I'm tired of being in my head all the time. There is no peace here in my mind. The whole notation of self-help is putting me in a double bind. I would love to be spontaneous like I am when I'm drunk, without having to drink of course.

[Tripod]

I am in liminality I think, but I also agree with Bodhi. I am kind of sick of being like this.

[Derek]

 I think i'm around stage number 4. Reintegration, (working out 'who I am' and becoming comfortable with that identity) and I think I'm ready to enter stage 5 too.
 I am pretty comfortable  around others and I sure am starting to accept who i am (flaws and all).
I guess a person is always going to be working on themselves as long as we live. That's the way I see it.
Derek