Download or read book The Intrinsic Self written by Portnoy and published by . This book was released on 2019-06 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What I've seen again and again in my thirty-plus years as a psychotherapist, and seminar leader, is that being too externally focused often lies at the heart of our stress and emotional struggles. Many of us have achieved the things that society deems successful, yet feel unfulfilled and anxious because we define ourselves, and our worth, according to what we do, rather than who we are. We equate our self-worth with accomplishments, conforming to societal norms, peer acceptance and family expectations. When we are estranged from our Intrinsic Self, we overlook our own needs, and instead attend to the needs of others, often accommodating them to "fit in" and maintain harmony. Our need for external validation and the feeling that we are never "enough" creates stress and keeps us stuck in repeated self-destructive patterns. The Intrinsic Self can help you break free from the external trap by teaching you to challenge outdated survival strategies that create a need to see yourself, and be seen by others, as competent or helpful in order to feel adequate and emotionally secure. Much more than simply increasing self-esteem, you will learn how addressing the specific ways you define your value and identity is key to creating a richer, more fulfilling life.