TIL that ego states (in Gordon Emerson’s model) are like clusters of personality that show up as “parts” of ourselves, each with its own patterns, emotions, and ways of responding.
Unlike Transactional Analysis’ Parent–Adult–Child model, Emerson maps out multiple states that can be nurturing, functional, or sometimes maladaptive. The kicker: every ego state has a positive intention, even if it shows up as self-sabotage.
That perspective aligns neatly with NLP’s parts work and modern coaching:
- Instead of fighting against a “negative” state, you acknowledge the intention behind it.
- You learn to switch states consciously (like pulling up the right character sheet for a specific encounter).
- Coaching becomes less about “fixing” and more about integrating–helping clients access the right state at the right time.
It’s like discovering you’re not just playing one character in the game of life–you’ve got a whole party. The real skill is knowing which one to put in the initiative order.
