the result of an overly critical view of yourself? If
you are not sure, remember honest feedback from
well-meaning friends. You might also seek a reality
check from others right now. Be sure you ask several
people who have your best interest in mind and
whom you trust to be honest with you. This will
help you to distinguish between perceived and real
shortcomings.
Ta ke the most important points of your exploration
and write them into Quadrant II of your Self Matrix
on page 138.Step 3: Recognizing Projected Positive Qualities
Quadrant III of the Self Matrix shows the qualities we admire
in film characters and do not recognize easily in ourselves.
When we are not fully aware of our own capacities and
strengths, we might project these positive qualities onto others.
Exploring our positive projection on film characters can help
us discover and further develop these characteristics in our-
selves. This does not mean that we always possess all the pos-
itive attributes that we see in others. But our ability to recog-
nize them in others can be an indication that we might at least
carry a trace of these qualities, or the potential to develop these
traits, in ourselves. Admiring them in others could indicate that
we have the energy and motivation to tap into this potential that
we have not yet fully developed.
Sometimes this becomes obvious in romantic relation-
ships. We feel attracted and fall in love with the type of person
who has the qualities that we believe we lack. But our partner
cannot make us complete. In order to become whole beings we
need to look inside, find and eventually develop these admired
qualities.
I believe that, in general, learning to understand our psy-
chological projections on movie characters serves better for
“Existence will remain
meaningless for you if you
yourself do not penetrate
into it with active love,
and if you do not in this
way discover its meaning
for yourself. Everything is
waiting to be hallowed by
you.”
Martin BuberSelf-Discovery Through Film Characters — The Self Matrix 141