#### Blending The word [[⭐️ Internal Family Systems|Internal Family Systems]] assigns to the state of being in which a [[💡 Parts|Part]] merges with a person's [[💡 Presence]]. We see the world through a part's eyes, identifying with their thoughts, perspectives, [[⭐️ Emotions|feelings]], and wounds. We are essentially [[💡 Enmeshment|enmeshed]] with a [[💡 Parts|Part]] of ourself. This is [[🕯️ Unblending|unblending]]'s polar opposite, similar to [[💡 Labeling (CBT)|Labeling]]. - [[🔑 Blending is a spectrum]] - [[🔑 The mind can only hold so much]] - [[🔑 Thoughts come from Parts|🔑 We are blended when identified with thought]] - When we're blended we tend to form our entire conception of another person around the one part of theirs who's triggered our own. We might also notice they seem somehow less real, like a two-dimensional secondary character. - We often experience "affective realism" – the part's eyes and [[💡 Burdens 🪨|Burdens]] become the lens through which we see the world and ourselves. If we feel terrible, we believe the world is terrible. - [[🔑 Learn to differentiate between parts and Self and to unblend]] ###### Unconscious Blending Unconscious Blending is being blended without being aware of it. We might be lost in and identified with thought. This is what some meditation teachers call being "in trance." Most of the time, especially early on in our [[⭐️ Internal Family Systems|IFS]] journey, we're unconsciously blended with our parts. ###### Conscious Blending Conscious Blending is being blended while aware of it — it might even be intentional. We consciously or deliberately invite parts to blend with us, so that we might experience some their thoughts and emotions. ![[🦮 How to help Parts unblend]] [^1]: [[📖 ✅ IFS Online Circle]]