Self-image & external image: what a window with four fields can tell you about your blind spots and your unconscious.

The so-called Johari window shows us how much our self-image (how we see ourselves) can differ from our external image (how others see us). A distinction is made between four areas: your open self, your hidden self, your blind spot and the unknown.
Your open self describes everything you know about yourself that others are as well allowed to know; for example, your hair colour, your shoe size or that you like to play table tennis.
Your hidden self is what you know about yourself but don’t want others to know; for example, that you secretly would rather have studied art than law and sometimes shed a few tears at sad films.
Your blind spot is the area of yourself that other people know about but you don’t; perhaps that you snore at night or when you can’t judge a certain person as neutrally as other people because of an emotional bias.
The unknown or unconscious is the area of yourself that neither you nor other people are aware of. This area can only be accessed through the practice of introspection, for example as part of psychological therapy.
Due to the combination of the four resulting fields in the Johari window, your self-image is naturally different from your external image. Your self-image is fed by your open self and your hidden self, while your external image is created from your open self and your blind spot.
If you like, ask your dear ones how they see you – you’ll be surprised at the similarities or differences to your own perception of yourself.
Are you interested in optimising your open self, making your hidden self more accessible to others or exploring your blind spot and your unconscious?
Let’s talk about it in a free initial session!
#johari #selfimage #externalimage

