Our Many Selves

This is one of those books which bring about change in the life of the reader. I've copied the review from Amazon.

In this no longer published book, the author develops the ideas that she encountered in her early interest in the great philosopher Gurdjieff through the writings of Ouspensky and their disciple, Jungian analyst Maurice Nicoll. This background, plus the theological training which enabled her to be on the staff of The Church of The Savior in Washington, D.C. in 1971 when this timeless book was written, give the richness of an open mind and an open heart to her valuable insights into the human struggle to become whole. Her dedication of the book to her twin Dick, `whose divided self keeps me close to suffering' brings a personal urgency to her study. The premise that we all consist of many selves is illustrated by her own life as well as numerous references to authors, poets, psychiatrists, religious and politicians. Intended to be a working book, one is given exercises and time frames and encouraged to share with a partner or a group to be optimally effective. I return to the exercises, and the book again and again, as my many selves evolve and merge. O'Connor quoting Thomas Kelly, `There is a divine Abyss within us all, a holy Infinite Center, a Heart, a Life who speaks in us and through us to the world...we have not counted this Holy Thing within us to be the most precious thing in the world. We have not surrendered all else, to attend to it alone...'Viktor E. Frankel, quoted from his book, The Doctor and the Soul. `I asked both my fellow prisoners whether the question was really what we expected from life. Was it not, rather, what life was expecting from us?' I believe that if we love the Lord our God (divine Abyss, holy Infinite Center, unnamable Name) with all our heart, soul, and strength (single-minded surrender), we'll discover what life expects from us and we'll be enabled to love our neighbor as ourselves. No small thing, as Elizabeth O'Connor has so aptly demonstrated in this fine study of human nature.