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On today\u2019s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks with author, speaker, and teacher Jenna Riemersma about internal family systems, or IFS. Jenna describes how IFS can help to transform your feelings about addictions and past trauma.\n\nJenna talks about how IFS argues that all of our parts are good. And as counterintuitive as that is, it\u2019s important to understand that the core of your Self is fundamentally good.\n\nExperiencing a \u201cpart\u201d of yourself is similar to the idea of having \u201cparts\u201d of our personalities. We want to give those parts their credit because they come from our true Selves, which are good. When a part of us is taken over by a burden, it\u2019s hard for us to take those parts back. Jenna gives an example of a playful part being burdened by a trauma. IFS calls these parts \u201cexiles,\u201d and they carry a lot of weight, especially when you want to try to access those formerly playful parts of yourself.\n\nJenna illustrates this point with the Manager and the addicted Firefighter, and how we have these competing identities who both want the destruction of addiction while simultaneously wanting to be free of addiction. The Manager wants to seek counsel, but the Firefighter is afraid of the change and pain. 10 times out of 10, the Firefighter actually hates contributing to that pain. We wouldn\u2019t start with that kind of revelation, but we would eventually work our way toward the patient understanding that ultimately the center of their being wants to be free from addiction.\n\nBeing able to confront these parts of ourselves without judgment is key. Have you ever experienced a time where all parts of yourself have been welcomed, Jenna asks. IFS helps us to uncover what is already there by surrendering a quality of self that is locked up in shame and hate. Michelangelo once said of a sculpture that he was \u201creleasing the angel trapped in the stone.\u201d\n\nWe need to ask ourselves what am I feeling toward, and if it\u2019s anything but the 8 Cs, we need to step back and try to change the situation. Do you think it\u2019s possible to change the way that your Firefighter part sees the world? Many think that it\u2019s impossible, but if you\u2019re willing to at least engage in the process, IFS can help you to not feel so hopeless, so alarmed, and so defeated.\n\nJenna wants to emphasize that all parts of you are welcome, and all parts of you are safe here.\n\nThe 8 Cs of IFS are:\n\nCalm\n\nConnection\n\nCompassion\n\nCreativity\n\nClarity\n\nCuriosity\n\nConfidence, and\n\nCourage\n\n\n\n\nSupport this podcast at \u2014 https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices