The Healthy Adult Mode

Here we turn our attention to the Healthy Adult Mode. But before we do, it is important to understand that this particular mode encompasses a number of different parts, that can take on a variety of different behaviours, all guided by a healthy, harmonious, sense of self. When our Healthy Adult Mode is in full swing, we are living in an internal space that is dominated by our Positive Childhood Schema, and we are generally living according to our true core values and beliefs. This is in essence what I mean by “Living the Life I Want to Live.” This state of Wise Mind is balanced, harmonious, and effective. When I am living this way, I am filled with what Internal Family Systems (IFS) calls Self Energy, and I have the ability to Observe and Describe my parts in real time, without any judgement.

“Recognizing the many different parts of my personality that are involved in my Healthy Adult mode is key to creating the Life I Want to Live. Building on the strengths I already possess requires awareness for their existence in the first place.”

 

~Steven Morris RP

When I am in the zone of the Healthy Adult mode, my actions are influenced by useful and adaptive thoughts, and I am able to access the behaviors, and skills I need to function effectively in adult life. This contains the healthy, competent, parts of our personality that have the ability to nurture, validate and affirm the vulnerable child mode; it uses the skills that gives us the ability to set limits for our angry and impulsive child modes; it promotes and supports the happy child mode; it recognizes, and works with our maladaptive coping modes; and it moderates and re-educates our dysfunctional critic modes. The adult in this mode also performs appropriate functions such as working, parenting, acting responsibly, and committing to obligations; pursuing pleasurable adult activities such as intellectual, aesthetic, and cultural interests and hobbies; engages in consensual sex; and maintains well-being routines such as ensuring a healthy diet along with adequate sleep and exercise. This mode is full of Self energy and brings compassion and curiosity to every situation, it generates our ability to Live the Life we Want to Live.

Download the Healthy Adult Mode PDF

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