We tend to have the illusion that a person's 'self'is "indivisible and inalterable without change, and always continues to completely stay the same". Even so, through this concept, many problems are being caused. Actually, it is the opposite, for several various contradicting diversified inner aspects or what can be called the'small selves within one's self'exist within us. They are called the "Subpersonality". The angry you or'self', the crying self, the indecisive self, the stubborn and vulnerable self, the intellectual self, the lazy self, the violent self, the wayward self, and others, are all examples of the many various selves that exist within us. (This does not mean the same as having a multiple personality.)

As mentioned, we have various subpersonalities existing within us, but somehow have the tendency to act as though only a part of the subpersonalities is ourselves or what we are. In short, an insubstantial belief under a strong impression of "I, myself, have a personality of so and so "become fixed and established.

However, in actuality, innumerable subpersonalities exist in ourselves, and as though they are changing their clothes, they are easily changing their own view of life and their own view of universe. Due to this, the subpersonalities are constantly uniting to form cooperative party factions with each other or opposing one another or mutually diverting the other in order to try to formulate the one unchanging personality.

Obviously, this takes place because it is easier to do so (to believe in the idea that oneself is indivisible, unchangeable, and completely the same all the time), but it is also possible for one to achieve insight and to be freed, if only one steps out from the grasps of this idea and learns from the process of regaining one's true self.

For example, although it is easier to recognize the cheerful understanding subpersonality of yourself, it is hard to recognize the dark gloomy faultfinding subpersonality of yourself. However, though, if you would change your point of view, perhaps the cheerful understanding self of yours might perhaps simply be a coarse whimsical self of yours.

On the other hand, the dark gloomy faultfinding self you have may be a calm observing research-enthusiast part of yourself. These occurrences of change are possible by recognizing each of your subpersonalities fully.