Individuation is the process of integrating all parts of yourself—your strengths and struggles, your conscious choices and unconscious patterns—into a cohesive, authentic identity. Jung believed that true psychological growth isn’t about “fixing” ourselves but about understanding and embracing all aspects of who we are. This means acknowledging both the light and shadow parts of ourselves, rather than rejecting or suppressing what feels inconvenient or uncomfortable. Individuation isn’t about becoming perfect; it’s about becoming whole.

When was the last time you decided to try something for the first time, something you’ve never done before? What is the internal narrative that follows your desire - is it supportive and encouraging, or does something in you decides you shouldn’t even try, because “what’s the point?” If you notice that discouraging voice leading the show most of the time, you might be experiencing learned helplessness.

One of the questions that frequently arises in therapy is: “How can I know the difference between intuition and anxiety?” Although all of us are born with our very own internal compass, many of us grew up discouraged to trust our natural curiosity and gut feelings. We learned we needed to act in ways that give us approval and are considered “appropriate,” even when it meant overriding what felt right to us. Over time, we may start relying on our intellect to figure things out or we may start looking at others for guidance, believing that they have our answers. Because of this, distinguishing between intuition and anxiety might be challenging at first, but like anything else, with practice, this becomes easier and more intuitive.