Where is the source of the Self, the source of life and freedom? In the biological individuality of each person? In social self-assertion? On a spiritual quest?
The first natural source of personality is the body. The body is alive, beautiful and strong, which distinguishes me from others for the better. Strengthening his body, taking care of its beauty, decorating it with clothes and coloring, a person made and felt like a person.
However, someone looks at the body differently. For him, his body is something that slows him down or keeps him on a par with others, interferes with the release of his I. His carcass is only a ballast that interferes with his social self-affirmation and spiritual development. On what does this or that view depend? From the ratio of the core and periphery of the personality and the age stages of personality development
The second source of personality is social self-affirmation. Becoming a father or mother, master or teacher, I become famous and respected, expand and promote my self. Reaching power, my I becomes big and significant for many.
However, for many, his social roles are only masks that make him look like everyone else. And such a person sees the source of his Self and his freedom in something else. Sometimes — just in freedom from, sometimes — in search of spirituality…
The third source of personality is spirituality…
Private opinion
On the application of the system: «encouragement-punishment». With regards to «individuality», children under 3 years of age do not have a personality at all. Because personality and individuality begin to form around 3 years. Until that age, we are dealing with animals. Smart and cunning, quick to learn but lacking personality. There are examples of this: wolf children, bear children, etc. Personality, individuality, society, society makes a person out of an animal. And the family is just a tiny part of this society. And it is in it that the most notorious and so valued by you personality and individuality is formed. In ancient Sparta, a hysterical child simply could not exist, because. long ago I would have flown into the abyss so as not to desecrate my family, not to dishonor my ancestors and not to spoil my descendants. And the “carrot and stick” system allows you to lay in the baby the makings of a person who understands and accepts not! only himself as the Center of the Universe, but also other people, understands his place in society and is able to adequately respond to the actions of other people and correctly evaluate his behavior. In fact, life itself and society itself, from the moment of birth to the moment of death of each of us, applies precisely this system of education. Smart, polite, strong, sociable — be so-and-so! It’s a gingerbread! Sluggish, passive, weak, closed — sunk into oblivion, no one will remember such a «unique» personality. In a few months, except for relatives, no one will remember the name and patronymic. It’s a whip!