We are strongly attached to the idea that there is a true, single, core self which remains constant throughout life. In reality, we extrapolate a sense of constancy from our memories. We have many subselves which come to the fore depending on the situation we are in. Thus, we have a subself dedicated to friends, another to family, another dedicated to self-protection and yet another dedicated to status and professional success, as many subsleves as the number of settings that modern life requires us to be involved in. We may assume a new identity in each new role and new relationship. There is no fixed you, but many versions of you being co-created in any given situation. Some see it as fragmenting of the self and others as expanding.
In all instances, it is hard to prove or disprove this view, or any other concept of the self scientifically. It is also difficult to suspend the idea that we have a solid and enduring character, for the most part of it, it is counter-intuitive.
If we place the self on a scale, at one end a solid and constant self and at the other end many subsleves and allow some movement between the two, we can move away from being a thing to being more in touch with our potential.
