Embracing All Our Parts Grows Our Compassion For Others | Dr. Richard C. Schwartz, Internal Family Systems

When you accept all the parts of you, you activate eight C’s in your life, namely; curiosity, calm, clarity, compassion, confidence, creativity, connectedness, and courage.  When we are filled up with these qualities, we can feel for someone, without being overwhelmed by them.

In this episode, Dr. Richard C. Schwartz joins Traci to talk about self-leadership and the links between some of the current events of our time: injustice of all kinds, politics, and empathy across divides. 

Dr. Schwartz is the founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS). He came up with a theory that we are all made up of parts, and different parts of us could be burdened, causing us not to be okay. He also found that when the parts felt safe and were allowed to relax, we spontaneously experienced the qualities of confidence, openness, and compassion that Dr. Schwartz came to call the Self with a capital ‘S’.  He found that when in that state of self, we know how to heal.

Near the end he shares how shame and legacy burdens are parts that play into our activism and justice work.  

Listen in as Traci and Dr. Schwartz help us understand the multiple parts theory of IFS and how it works.

Episode Timelines:

[ 06:26] What would Dick want to be changed in therapists’ training?

[10:39] Richard’s multiple parts theory

[16:50] Do we all have multiple parts despite having a smooth childhood?

[17:52] Self Leadership Is...

[19:23] The eight C’s: Qualities that come out when you accept yourself

[20:20] What should listeners be mindful of when listening to someone whose parts might come up and maybe not emphasized?

[24:30] How culture influences some of our parts

[28:11] How Internal Family Systems is stretching beyond the therapist office

[34:19] Richard’s words of wisdom

Resources Mentioned:

Richard’s books

Stand Out Quotes:

“A burden is an extreme belief, emotion or energy that comesfrom some trauma or, bad event in our lives and attaches almost like a virus.” [13:00]

“The ego is just a collection of these little manager parts trying their best to keep you safe.   They need love, too. They don’t need to be disparaged.” [30:16]

“It is possible to burnout and people who burn out typically are those who, in trying to help somebody, feel like they have to take in their emotions.” [34:31]

“If you’re full in compassion, you don’t necessarily feel what the client is feeling. But you feel a lot for them, you have a strong desire to help them. You don’t necessarily have to feel their feelings [to feel for them].” [35:49]

Connect:

Find | Sidewalk Talk Podcast
At sidewalk-talk.org
On Instagram: @sidewalktalkorg
On Twitter: @sidewalktalkorg

Find | Traci Ruble
At Traciruble.com
On Instagram: @TraciRubleMFT
On Twitter: @TraciRubleMFT
On Facebook: @TraciRubleMFT

Find | Dr. Richard C. Schwartz

At

Find | Dr. Richard Schwartz

At:  ifs-institute.com
On LinkedIn: @internalfamilysystems
On Twitter: @IFS_Model
On Instagram: @internalfamilysystems
On Facebook: @InternalFamilySystems