Psychosynthesis models are oriented toward health and potential rather than pathology. They point to the nature of “I” (or personal self), the will, the multi-dimensional unconscious, the personality structure, and our spiritual Source, or Self. They explicate the relationship of the various personality functions to one another and to “I”, and the relationship of “I” to Self—of individual to Universal.

Assagioli conceived of “I” or personal self as awareness and intentionality, or will. “I” makes the choices that determine life direction, style, and form. He saw “I” to be without qualities—pure awareness and will—and the manifestation of a Transpersonal Self, an energetic transcendent/immanent Source of all life. “Self-realization” refers to the expression of Self through the personality (with “I” acting as administrative agent).

Much of the time we are caught up in a survival trance, identified with our passing emotions, our beliefs and assumptions, our concepts and ideas about the way things are, and our bodily sensations and appearance. When we identify too strongly with one or another part of the personality, we may not be clearly aware of the rest of our reality, nor of the guidance of Self. Psychosynthesis guiding seeks to help us disidentify from limited patterns of feeling, thought, and behavior so we can move our awareness freely among them, and act from conscious choice, in alignment with Self.

Self is always present, whether or not we are feeling particularly “centered” or “whole,” even when we are caught up with a passing feeling or belief. We often associate the feeling of “being centered” with Self, but sometimes we awaken to Self in the midst of despair and disintegration. Spiritual psychosynthesis is the process of awakening to the presence and movement of Self in the whole of our lives, so that we live and act in greater harmony, bringing our gifts into action in the world.