Trying Out for Parts

This modified Parts Party is based in part on Virginia Satir's Your Many Faces, as described in John Bradshaw's Healing the Shame that Binds You.

Take a deep breath, relax, and imagine this happening as you read:  

Close your eyes. . . Spend two or three minutes becoming mindful of your breathing. Relax. As you breathe deeply in and out, relaxing more and more, notice a screen in front of you and the number nine appearing on the screen. If you can’t see it clearly, hear a voice saying “nine” or picture yourself finger painting it. Then see, hear, or finger paint the number eight; then seven, then six, then five; then four, down to the number one, becoming more and more relaxed, breathing deeper and deeper. 

Let the number one slowly turn into a stage door and see it slowly open. Walk through the stage door into a small theater. Notice the walls and the stage. Look at the closed curtain. Sit down in a front row seat and feel the fabric of the seat. Look closely as you turn it into your favorite fabric. Make the chair comfortable. Feel yourself relaxing more and more into the chair.

Look around again and make this theater be any way you want it to be, all around you, then facing the stage and the closed curtain. Notice some movement behind the curtain, then watch as it slowly opens.  Notice your emotions rising, your expectation of something new, your body alert with excitement. As the curtain opens see a large sign covering the back wall of the stage. It reads The [your name] Parts Review. 

Think of an aspect of your mind, intellect, thoughts that you really like. Imagine a famous person or someone you know well who represents that part. Take your time and let this person walk out onto the side of the stage to your right. Hear applause all around you. 

Now think of your emotional self, and a quality of your emotions that you like. Imagine a famous person or someone you know well who represents that part. Take your time and let this person walk out onto the side of the stage to your right. Hear applause all around you.  

And now pay attention to your physical self, your body and instincts, an aspect of your gut self that you like. Imagine a famous person or someone you know well who represents that part. Take your time and let this person walk out onto the side of the stage to your right. Hear applause all around you.

Think of an aspect of your mind, intellect, thoughts that you dislike or hate or reject. Imagine a famous person or someone you know well who represents that part. Take your time and let this person walk out onto the side of the stage to your left. Hear boos being shouted all around you. 

Now think of your emotional self, and a quality of your emotions that you dislike or hate or reject. Imagine a famous person or someone you know well who represents that part. Take your time and let this person walk out onto the side of the stage to your left. Hear boos being shouted all around you. 

And now pay attention to your physical self, your body and instincts, an aspect of your gut self that you dislike or hate or reject. Imagine a famous person or someone you know well who represents that part. Take your time and let this person walk out onto the side of the stage to your left. Hear boos being shouted all around you.

Now imagine a wise and beautiful person walking to the center of the stage. Just let your wise person appear. Notice whatever strikes you about this person, who then walks off the stage toward you, taking you hand and walking back up onto the stage with you. 

 

Turning to the three people who represent parts of your thoughts, emotions, and instincts that you especially like, walk around each person individually and look them in the face. One at a time, ask each person how that part helps you. How does it hinder you? What can you learn from it?

Now turning to the three people who represent parts of your thoughts, emotions, and instincts that you dislike or hate or reject, walk around each person individually and look them in the face. One at a time, ask each person how that part helps you. How does it hinder you? What can you learn from it? 

Now bring all six parts to the center of the stage, facing each one at a time and imagining that part melting into you. Do this until you are alone on the stage with your wise person. Walk back down to your seat facing the stage, and see the wise person there on the stage, telling you, "This is the theater of your life. All these parts belong to you. Embrace your selves, love and accept and learn from each." 

 

Say to yourself “I love and accept all of me.”  

 

Show your wise person appreciation for the lesson. See your wise person walk away. Know you can call on your wise person any time.  

Now imagine standing up and walking out toward your theater doors. Turn around and see the number one on the curtains at the stage. Finger paint it and hear it. Then see, hear, or finger paint the numbers two and three on the curtains, then four and five, feeling the life in your fingers and toes, letting this energy come up through your legs. With the number six, feel your whole body coming alive. With numbers seven and eight, continue becoming fully conscious. At number nine you are restored to your full, waking consciousness.