Very cool post, even if a bit lengthy! I’d suggest adding a small “Level 0”: sleeping well, staying physically healthy, and getting at least some support from other people. These basics often dissolve a surprising number of problems before anything deeper is needed.
I’d also emphasize that Levels 2–4 blend together quite a lot. If I’m understanding correctly, Level 2 resembles working with protectors in IFS, while Level 3 is closer to working with exiles. But in practice the boundaries blur: treating protectors with care often brings you into contact with exiles, which in turn requires the skill of “just being with” and to noticing Buddhist hindrances—something very similar to Levels 3 and 4, Healing exiles tends to clarify awareness, without which insight, steadier samadhi, and more authentic brahmavihāra practice are impossible. Those practices, in turn, necessarily involve meeting whatever emotions arise and transforming them in the process. So it’s not only that the levels reinforce one another; in some respects they’re almost facets of the same process.
I suppose it’s obvious I belong to the “emotional work” fan club 😁
I’d suggest adding a small “Level 0”: sleeping well, staying physically healthy, and getting at least some support from other people.
I had a very brief mention of that at the very end, but yeah I could emphasize this more. The suggestion of level 0 is nice, though I’m not sure if that would cleanly fit the implied axis with the lower numbers being stuff that’s easier to observe directly or externally and the higher numbers going toward more unconscious stuff that informs how things on the lower levels works out.
Then again maybe this kind of a quadrant approach (by Kat Woods) would work better than just one axis.
If I’m understanding correctly, Level 2 resembles working with protectors in IFS, while Level 3 is closer to working with exiles.
Yeah, a previous version actually had a footnote saying something like “for those familiar with IFS, we can roughly say that level 2 is protectors while level 3 is exiles”. It got lost at some point while moving drafts from one file format to another.
So it’s not only that the levels reinforce one another; in some respects they’re almost facets of the same process.
Very cool post, even if a bit lengthy! I’d suggest adding a small “Level 0”: sleeping well, staying physically healthy, and getting at least some support from other people. These basics often dissolve a surprising number of problems before anything deeper is needed.
I’d also emphasize that Levels 2–4 blend together quite a lot. If I’m understanding correctly, Level 2 resembles working with protectors in IFS, while Level 3 is closer to working with exiles. But in practice the boundaries blur: treating protectors with care often brings you into contact with exiles, which in turn requires the skill of “just being with” and to noticing Buddhist hindrances—something very similar to Levels 3 and 4, Healing exiles tends to clarify awareness, without which insight, steadier samadhi, and more authentic brahmavihāra practice are impossible. Those practices, in turn, necessarily involve meeting whatever emotions arise and transforming them in the process. So it’s not only that the levels reinforce one another; in some respects they’re almost facets of the same process.
I suppose it’s obvious I belong to the “emotional work” fan club 😁
Thanks!
I had a very brief mention of that at the very end, but yeah I could emphasize this more. The suggestion of level 0 is nice, though I’m not sure if that would cleanly fit the implied axis with the lower numbers being stuff that’s easier to observe directly or externally and the higher numbers going toward more unconscious stuff that informs how things on the lower levels works out.
Then again maybe this kind of a quadrant approach (by Kat Woods) would work better than just one axis.
Yeah, a previous version actually had a footnote saying something like “for those familiar with IFS, we can roughly say that level 2 is protectors while level 3 is exiles”. It got lost at some point while moving drafts from one file format to another.
Agree!
Cool quadrant, I’ll remember it! Thanks!